Despite its toxic properties, Oxytropis and
Astragalus have potential as forage resources, being
palatable and rich in crude protein. A deep-rooted
legume, locoweed is drought tolerant and cold
resistant, and it has a low nutritional requirement
that enables it to grow under harsh environmental
conditions. These characteristics make it very useful
for stabilizing moving sands and conserving soil and
water. More research is needed to understand how
locoweeds might be managed as forage in arid and
semi-arid grasslands in China. The relationship
between the endophyte, swainsonine, and the plant
must be well understood before much progress can
be made to utilize locoweeds safely for livestock
forage.