Harvesting the cob requires about 50 percent more storage capacity compared to storing the grain only. Where storage capacity is limited or more expensive structures are used, the improvement in feed utilization and the feed value of the cob may not always offset the additional cost of harvest and storage. Feeding Value of Immature or Early Harvested Corn When corn has been planted late or growth halted because of an early frost, the harvested grain may be immature and the nutritional value considerably different than that of corn reaching maturity. The composition of corn harvested at various maturities is shown in Table III . In general, immature corn is higher in protein than mature corn, but similar in energy.
Test weight is lowered considerably depending on degree of immaturity.
Immature corn that is incapable of being shelled can be harvested as ear or snapped corn, but will have a lower energy value than mature snapped corn. As corn progresses from the milk stage to full maturity, the percentage of corn in a corncob mix increases from approximately 60 percent to 80 percent of the total dry matter. Snapped corn harvested in the dough to early-dent stage of maturity will have 90 to 95 percent the energy value of mature snapped corn. After mid-dent, the energy value is similar to mature snapped corn. In the typical beef cattle ration, the digestibility of immature corn is expected to be similar to the digestibility of mature corn.