Forage production in semi-arid regions of Brazil is limited by water deficit. This study aimed to identify the most adapted and efficient production systems and define their agricultural calendars for the semi-arid region of Brazil. Twenty-nine production arrangements that included different cropping conditions, plant density, plant cycles, water replenishment, use of soil cover and production arrangements based on the main crop (forage cactus) were simulated for 14 locations. On the basis of the agricultural calendar, planning from the beginning of December to January is ideal for rainfed systems. Compared with their monoculture systems, the intercropping system of forage cactus and irrigated sorghum increased the forage supply by 44% and 89%, respectively. The use of irrigation increased the forage cactus biomass by 150%, with an emphasis on the clone Orelha de Elefante Mexicana, which presented an average water productivity of 39 g m-2. The increase in the planting density of the forage cactus increased productivity by up to 140% under the control. The use of irrigated forage cactus and sorghum intercropping should be recommended, in addition to practices such as higher planting densities and the use of mulch to optimise yield. La production de fourrage dans les r & eacute;gions semi-arides du Br & eacute;sil est limit & eacute;e en raison du d & eacute;ficit hydrique. Cette & eacute;tude visait & agrave; identifier les syst & egrave;mes de production les plus adapt & eacute;s et efficaces et & agrave; d & eacute;finir leurs calendriers agricoles pour la r & eacute;gion semi-aride du Br & eacute;sil. Vingt-neuf modes de production, qui comprenaient diff & eacute;rentes conditions de culture, densit & eacute; des plantes, cycles de culture, r & eacute;approvisionnement en eau, utilisation de la couverture du sol et modes de production bas & eacute;es sur la culture principale (cactus fourrage), ont & eacute;t & eacute; simul & eacute;es pour 14 sites. Sur la base du calendrier agricole, la planification de d & eacute;but d & eacute;cembre & agrave; janvier est id & eacute;ale pour les syst & egrave;mes pluviaux. Par rapport & agrave; leurs syst & egrave;mes de monoculture, les cultures mixtes irrigu & eacute;es de cactus fourrager et de sorgho ont augment & eacute; l'approvisionnement en fourrage de 44% et 89%, respectivement. L'utilisation de l'irrigation a augment & eacute; la biomasse de cactus fourrager de 150%, avec un accent mettant sur le clone Orelha de Elefante Mexicana, qui pr & eacute;sentait une productivit & eacute; moyenne de l'eau de 39 g m-2. L'augmentation de la densit & eacute; de plantation du cactus fourrager a augment & eacute; la productivit & eacute; jusqu'& agrave; 140% dans le cadre du contr & ocirc;le. L'utilisation de cultures mixtes irrigu & eacute;es de cactus fourrage et de sorgho devrait & ecirc;tre recommand & eacute;e, en plus de pratiques telles que les densit & eacute;s de semis plus & eacute;lev & eacute;es et l'utilisation de paillis pour optimiser le rendement.