Grassland-based livestock systems across Mexico’s arid and semi-arid belt are increasingly exposed to drought, degrading forage reliability, and soil function. This review synthesizes evidence on native C4 grasses and forage shrubs as complementary building blocks of drought-resilient swards. We searched Web of Science, Scopus, CAB Abstracts and key grey sources (USDA/NRCS Plant Guides, USFS FEIS, Tropical Forages, SNICS) for 1990–2025 studies in English/Spanish. Dominant native grasses (Bouteloua spp., Hilaria belangeri, Digitaria californica, Trichloris crinita, Sporobolus airoides, Panicum hallii) provide high warm-season digestibility and structural cover via C4 physiology, basal/intercalary meristems, and deep/fibrous roots. Forage shrubs (Atriplex canescens, Desmanthus bicornutus, Leucaena leucocephala, Flourensia cernua, Prosopis spp.) bridge the dry-season protein/energy gap and create “resource islands” that enhance infiltration, provided anti-nutritional risks (mimosine/DHP, tannins, salts/oxalates, terpenoids) are managed by dose and diet mixing. We integrate these findings into a Resistance–Recovery–Persistence framework and translate them into operations: (i) site-matching rules for species/layouts, (ii) PLS (pure live seed)-based seed specifications and establishment protocols, (iii) grazing TIDD (timing–intensity–distribution–duration) with a practical monitoring dashboard (CP targets, stubble/cover thresholds, NDVI/SPEI triggers). Remaining bottlenecks are seed quality/availability and uneven extension; policy alignment on PLS procurement and regional seed increase can accelerate adoption. Mixed native grass–shrub systems are a viable, scalable pathway to strengthening drought resilience in Mexican rangelands.

Objective: To assess the sustainability of mixed farming systems among producers participating in Farmer Field Schools in ten municipalities of Zacatecas, Mexico, and identify strengths and areas needing intervention. Design/Methodology/Approach: A structured, participatory survey was conducted with 58 producers. The survey covered five sustainability dimensions: economic, environmental, social, technical-productive, and climate resilience. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, principal component analysis (PCA), and ordinal logistic regression. Results: The findings indicated that 50% of producers reached a medium sustainability level, 36% high, and 14% low. The environmental dimension scored the highest, while technical-productive and climate resilience showed the greatest weaknesses. Agricultural surface area was the only significant predictor of sustainability (p < 0.05), suggesting that land access supports adopting agroecological practices. Limitations/Implications of the study: The cross-sectional design restricts the ability to track changes over time. Future longitudinal studies are recommended to evaluate the long-term effects of technical assistance and training programs over time. Findings/Conclusions: Access to productive resources and strengthening technical and organizational capacity are crucial for moving toward resilient, sustainable mixed farming systems in semi-arid areas.

Goat (Capra hircus Linnaeus, 1758) production is a key livelihood activity in Zacatecas, Mexico, but it faces increasing environmental, social, and economic pressures typical of dryland systems. This study offers an integrative narrative review with a systematic search and transparent selection criteria to synthesize evidence on the sustainability of goat production systems in Zacatecas. Peer-reviewed literature and technical documents were analyzed alongside official contextual indicators. The synthesis shows a decline in the caprine sector over recent census periods, with a producer profile marked by demographic vulnerability. Across the evidence, sustainability challenges stem from interconnected pathways where drought and rainfall variability decrease forage and water availability, worsen seasonal feed shortages, and boost reliance on purchased inputs, raising costs and increasing land degradation risks. These environmental pressures interact with herd management issues such as feeding, preventive health, parasite control, and reproduction, while limited access to coordinated services, infrastructure, and stable markets hampers value capture and reinvestment. Significant evidence gaps remain for Zacatecas-specific, outcome-based assessments (profitability during drought, rangeland condition metrics, health burdens, and value-chain performance), indicating the need for ongoing monitoring. Key leverage points include drought preparedness and feed planning, improving water access, preventive herd health, strengthening producer organizations and extension services, and developing feasible value-added options for dairy and meat products.