Agronomic evaluations have shown poor early-season vigor, increased lodging, delayed flowering, and poor grain yields. Starch in kernels of dent corn contain about 75 percent amylopectin starch and 25 percent amylose starch. Waxy corn kernels contain 100 percent amylopectin starch which is totally digestible. Limited feeding trial data suggest that waxy corn equals, but does not exceed, dent corn for forage quality. Waxy corn is very similar to dent corn for yield, standability and other agronomic characteristics.
Sweet corn is often available for ensiling as canning factory waste, stover, and as whole plants.
Canning factory waste consists of husks, cobs, and some ears. This silage is usually lower in protein and energy than silage made from dent corn. On a dry matter basis, its nutritive value equals that of immature field corn. When whole plant sweet corn silage is allowed to mature before ensiling, its feed value equals that of dent corn with similar ear-stover ratios. Sweet corn whole plant yields are typically lower than dent corn.