Local herbaceous forage species for sustainable and resilient agropastoral systems in Benin

• Livestock farming in West African faces feed shortages affecting productivity • Surveys & pasture walks identified 42 local forage species • Six top forage species chosen to boost agropastoral systems resilience • Hyparrhenia smithiana and Panicum maximum local highest in protein and minerals • Their introduction into production systems can enhance agropastoral resilience Livestock farming is a vital component of agricultural economies in tropical countries, contributing significantly to food security, household income, and the resilience of rural communities. However, the livestock production is increasingly facing challenges related to the availability, quality and resilience of forage resources. This study aims to prioritize local herbaceous forage species to strengthen the sustainability and resilience of agropastoral systems in Benin. Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted with 330 randomly selected herders across Agricultural Development Poles 2 and 4. Additionally, the field-based tracking of cattle herds was carried out in collaboration with local communities to confirm the presence of the species reported during interviews and to assess the reliability of the information collected. Four criteria were used to prioritize the inventoried species: life form, palatability index, species availability, and nutritional composition. In total, 42 herbaceous forage species were recorded. Species abundance in grazing areas proved to be the main factor influencing their frequency of use, whereas perceived palatability showed no significant effect. The prioritization approach led to the identification of six priority herbaceous species ( Andropogon chinensis, Andropogon gayanus, Andropogon tectorum, Brachiaria falcifera, Hyparrhenia smithiana , and Panicum maximum local). Nutritional analysis confirmed the superiority of H. smithiana and P. maximum local in crude protein (12.18% DM and 7.12% DM, respectively) as well as in calcium (0.25% DM and 0.34% DM), magnesium (0.11% DM and 0.31% DM), potassium (0.76% DM and 1.37% DM), and phosphorus (0.14% DM and 0.19% DM). These results highlight the potential of certain local high-nutritional-value species to improve livestock feeding and support the transition toward more sustainable and resilient agropastoral systems in the face of current environmental challenges.