Diversity and traditional knowledge concerning fodder plants are invaluable assets for enhancing the sustainable management of crop-livestock system of Zhaotong City in the mountainous southwest China.

The global rise in animal protein consumption has significantly amplified the demand for fodder. A comprehensive understanding of the diversity and characteristics of existing fodder resources is essential for balanced nutritional fodder production. This study investigates the diversity and composition of fodder plants and identifies key species for cattle in Zhaotong City, Yunnan, China, while documenting indigenous knowledge on their usage and selection criteria. Ethnobotanical surveys were conducted in 19 villages across seven townships with 140 informants. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, free listing, and participatory observation, and analyzed using Relative Frequency Citation. A total of 125 taxa (including 106 wild and 19 cultivated) were reported. The most cited family is Poaceae (27 taxa, 21.43%), followed by Asteraceae (17 taxa, 13.49%), Fabaceae (14 taxa, 11.11%), Polygonaceae (9 taxa, 7.14%) and Lamiaceae (4 taxa, 3.17%). The whole plant (66.04%) and herbaceous plants (84.80%) were the most used parts and life forms. The most cited species were Zea mays, Brassica rapa, Solanum tuberosum, Eragrostis nigra, and Artemisia dubia. Usage of diverse fodder resources reflects local wisdom in managing resource availability and achieving balanced nutrition while coping with environmental and climatic risks. Preferences for certain taxonomic groups are due to their quality as premier fodder resources. To promote integrated crop-livestock farming, we suggest further research into highly preferred fodder species, focusing on nutritional assessment, digestibility, meat quality impacts, and potential as antibiotic alternatives. Establishing germplasm and gene banks for fodder resources is also recommended.