The study was conductedto determine the kinetic parameters of in situ DM and NDF and the passageof particles of forages produced from the intercropping of brachiaria grasswith corn and soybean crops. Three experiments were performed, as follows: Experiment1 - Brachiaria grass intercropped with corn at different plant ages; Experiment2 - Cultivation of brachiaria grass intercropped with corn set in differentsowing arrangements; and Experiment 3 - Intercropping of brachiaria grass andsoybean. Passage kinetic of particles was determined by the recovery of markersin feces. In order to obtain the ruminal degradation of DM and NDF, nylon bagswere used at zero time, 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120 and 144 hours. Theparticles' passage kinetic of corn with brachiaria grass silage and brachiariagrass silage presented 3%/h and 2.3%/h, respectively; and for soybean and brachiariagrass silage, it was 1.8%/h, which can be explained in part by the mixture ofmaterials ensiled. The materials originated from the intercropping caused rumenfill. Degradation rates were lower when compared with literature data. The brachiariagrass silage obtained from corn and/or soybean crop-pasture integrated systemis a feed with low nutritive value due to its low NDF degradation rate and lowpassage rate, causing rumen fill and, thus, possibly resulting in low intakeand poor animal performance.
