Feed availability and accessibility are two of the main challenges for Benin livestock systems, which are currently subject to environmental stress and changing climatic conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the main fodder resources used by livestock in Benin by estimating fodder supply and demand for livestock in Benin's agroecological zones (AEZs) and establishing a fodder balance. A total of 314 agrofarmers were surveyed using simple random sampling. Data were collected through discussions with agropastoralists, structured questionnaires, secondary data and observations. The survey in the eight AEZs of Benin revealed that maize residues are the main crop residues used in livestock feed (53.14%), followed by sorghum residues (8.41%), millet (5.91%), soya (8.1%) and rice (5). It also found that natural grazing areas are the main fodder resources used in Benin, with a dry matter contribution of 74% compared with 26% for crop residues. The study of the availability of fodder resources revealed a positive fodder balance for dry matter (DM) in each agroecological zone, but a negative balance in all AEZs for metabolizable energy (ME) and digestible crude protein (DCP). Thus, with an average annual availability of almost 3.15 million tons of DM across all Benin AEZs, zones 2, 3 and 5 had the highest DM availability rates, while AEZs 1, 7 and 8 had the lowest DM availability. To alleviate this problem of food shortages for livestock, we suggest interventions to improve the productivity of grazing areas; The introduction of fodder crops with the emphasis on legumes and efficient use of available fodder resources, such as the treatment of livestock feed (treatment of poor fodder with urea is one example).

With extreme climate variability and drying rangelands, livestock feeding is experiencing severe difficulties in Benin. Therefore, it is urgent to find sustainable solutions. This study aims to understand dairy farmers’ perceptions of fodder tree use and their potential for adoption by local dairy farmers as well the nutritional values of these fodders. Data were collected in three arid regions through interviews and focus group discussion, addressing socio‐demographic characteristics, farmers’ knowledge on fodder tree, and most frequently used fodder tree species. The chemical composition of fodder tree species common to the three studied climate regions was determined using the AOAC (1990) method. It found that fodder tree and shrubs supply practices were varied significantly depending on the ethnic group ( p < 0.001). Thus, Bariba, Dendi, and Yoruba ethnic share similar fodder supply practices which clearly differ from those of Peulh farmers. About fodder supply constraints, distance was the main obstacle for more than half of the first ethnics groups, while 65.2% of Peulh considered legislation protecting tree species as the major constraint. The multiple correspondence analysis on both selection criteria of fodder trees and the determinants of adoption allowed us to identify three distinct types of dairy farmers: (1) the choice of fodder tree/shrubs based on the accessibility and palatability of the species and their secondary uses, such as increasing milk production, (2) the choice of species based on their seasonal availability, (3) the choice of species based on their availability at peak of dry season and their secondary uses to treat cattle digestives diseases. Secamone afzelii , Anogeissus leiocarpa , Piliostigma thonningii , Combretum glutinosum , Ficus thonningii Blume , Diospyros mespiliformis , and Annona senegalensis were species common to all the studied dry regions. The results of this study provide clear evidence for extension workers and policymakers in their efforts to promote and integrate fodder trees into ruminants farming for cattle feeding during the dry season.

Manipulating feed rations with forages containing specific natural phytochemicals that reduce enteric methane emissions is a sustainable strategy for cattle farming. This study aimed to select forages based on their secondary metabolites, nutritional value and methane production. A total of fifteen forage species identified by cattle farmers were studied. Phytochemical parameters were measured in line with the European Pharmacopoeia method. In vitro fermentation with bovine rumen juice was used to assess digestibility and methane production. Results showed that species with high tannin content: Acacia sieberiana (2.002%), Khaya senegalensis (1.939%) and Detarium microcarpum (1.665%) had the lowest digestibility values of Organic Matter Digestibility (OMD ranging from 30.0 to 47.1%) and metabolizable energy values (1281.6 to 1952.4 kcal/kg DM). These low energy values were also coupled with low methane production (185.0 to 282 mL CH₄/kg DM). Furthermore, despite their high tannin contents, Anogeissus leiocarpa (4.556%) and Isoberlinia doka (2.486%) recorded good digestibility, good energy values, and moderate methane production. However, species that are poor in tannins and rich in nitrogen, such as Blighia sapida, Leucaena leucocephala, and Faidherbia albida, have high digestibility values (43.1% − 62.8%) and metabolizable energy above 2200 kcal/kg DM. Blighia sapida, in particular, stands out with an exceptional dMO content of 62.8% and an energy value of 2657.6 kcal/kg DM, combined with values of 0.93 UFL and 0.88 UFV. However, this performance resulted in the highest methane production (505 mL CH₄/kg DM). Species with moderate levels of secondary metabolites, such as Piliostigma thonningii, Daniellia oliveri, Combretum collinum, Annona senegalensis and Diospyros mespiliformis, have average digestibility (53.3%) and energy values ranging from 1868.3 to 2206.4 kcal/kgDM. These plants offer a good compromise between digestibility and methane production through the balanced presence of polyphenols and flavonoids. This study definitively demonstrates that the rational management of secondary metabolites in ruminant feed is a promising way to combine zootechnical performance with a more responsible environmental footprint. This research is the first study in Benin that provides data and tables to guide cattle farmers in ecofeed rations formulation.

Dual-purpose cropping (sowing crops with the intention of both grazing them during vegetative growth and harvesting grain thereafter for household consumption) is certainly a promising way to address challenges face by small-scale dairy farmers in Benin due to climate variability and change. This study evaluated the impact of climate variability and change on dual-purpose crops productivity performances and nutritional values in Benin’s climatic regions. Four dual-purpose crops were studied. They are maize fodder, sorghum fodder, peanut fodder and cowpea fodder. The grain yield across various climate regions and years were assessed. Also fodders samples were analysed according to official methods of AOAC. The results showed that dual purposes crops yield were significantly affected particularly in some years in many regions of Benin by climate parameters variation. The variation of humidity had a negative effect on cereals dual-purpose crops production in Guinean region while the impacts of temperature and rainfall on dual purpose crops were higher in Sudanian region. The model for predicting the resistance of dual-purpose crops to climate variability and change revealed that The Annual Yield of Sorghum Grain was significantly influenced by humidity (P=0.0111), Rainfall (P=0.0374) and Weather station/Region (P=0.0493), as well as by the interaction between temperature and Grain Yield per Hectare (P=0.0423). The annual quantity of maize produced varied significantly with temperature (P=0.00154), humidity, Rainfall (P=0. 00792), Weather station/ Region (P=0.00362). The Annual Yield of Cowpea Grain production varied significantly with Temperature and Humidity (0.0205). Furthermore, temperature, humidity, year and Grain Yield per Hectare significantly affected the Annual Yield of Peanut Grain Produced. Nutritional values of the four studies dual-purpose crops were assessed. The energy values were 0.60 and 0.50 UFL/kg of Dry Matter respectively for sorghum-fodder and maize-fodder, the contents of digestible nitrogenous materials (MAD) were 1 and 0 g/kg of DM respectively for sorghum-fodder and maize-fodder. If the energy values were quite good for cereals fodder, the nitrogen values were very low. This study highlighted the nutritional advantage of leguminous fodders over cereal fodders.

In West Africa, dairy production plays a vital role in the economy and the wellbeing of the population. Currently, dairy production has become vulnerable due to climate variability. The main objective of this study was to investigate dairy farmers’ perceptions and adaptation strategies towards climate change in West Africa. Individual interview and Focus Group Discussions were conducted among 900 dairy farmers. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test were used to assess dairy farmers’ perception on climate change. Multiple Correspondence Analysis and hierarchical clustering on principal component analysis were used to access the adaptation strategies of dairy farmers. The results revealed that dairy farmers perceived a decrease in the rainy season and the annual rainfall but an increase of the dry season and the annual temperature that affect their activities. Dairy farmers that fed the cattle mainly with natural pastures, crops residues and agroindustrial by-products in the climate zones of Benin, Burkina Faso and Niger, used as climate change adaptation strategies, transhumance in wetland, animal manure to improve fodder production and quality; plants to improve milk production, milk conservation and to treat animal diseases. They sold milk or produced local cheese with the remaining unsold milk. They use crops residues, mineral supplements, herd size reduction; water supply with community pastoral wells and dams, purchase water. Dairy farmers that mainly invested in fodder production and conservation in the climate zones of Mali, sold milk produced to dairies and cheese production units; used plants to improve milk production, pasteurization for milk conservation and veterinary service for animal care. This study provided relevant information for West African policymakers in designing appropriate policies and programs to assist dairy farmers to improve milk production under climate variability and change.