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The Gaddi shepherds of the northwestern Himalayan region practice transhumance, migrating their sheep and goats to alpine pastures in summer and lower Shiwalik hills in winter. These animals graze on various vegetation during migration, whose nutritional value remains largely unstudied. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the nutritional quality of key fodder resources (including trees, shrubs, herbs, and grasses) crucial for small ruminant feeding. Gaddi farmers were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire to gauge their preferences for these fodder resources. Representative samples 20 most important fodder species (in triplicate) were hand plucked to mimic the diet selection by migratory small ruminants from the Bharmour block of District Chamba and were subjected to nutritional evaluation. The study revealed significant variation in nutritional attributes among the different preferred fodder species. The DM% was highest in Quercus semecarpifolia (61.80 ± 0.77) and lowest in Buddleja crispa (32.40 ±0.26) [p<0.05]. The CP% (DM basis) was highest in Indigofera heterantha (22.03 ± 0.27) and lowest in Quercus semecarpifolia (9.93 ± 0.17) [p<0.05]. EE% was higher in Quercus leucotrichophora (3.26 ±0.20) and lowest in Morus serrata (1.33 ± 0.25) [p<0.05]. The CF, NDF, and ADF (%) were greater [p<0.05] in Quercus semecarpifolia and lowest in Trifolium pratense (37.00 ± 0.31, 53.13 ± 0.39 and 47.66 ± 0.29 vs. 21.23 ± 0.42, 36.13 ± 0.36 and 25.16 ± 0.58, respectively). The TA (%) was found highest in Populus deltoides (8.06 ±0.39) and lowest in Indigofera heterantha (2.56 ± 0.30) [p<0.05]. AIA (%) was highest in Salix alba (4.66 ± 0.21) and lowest in Oxyria digyna (0.66 ± 0.23) [p<0.05]. The NFE (%) was highest in Festuca arundinacea (57.1 3±0.40) and lowest in Populus deltoides (43.30 ±0.27) [p<0.05]. Based on farmer preferences and nutritional analysis, the study identified the most preferred species for Gaddi farmers feeding small ruminants in the Bharmour block of District Chamba, including Desmodium elegens, Indigofera heterantha, Rubus saxatilis, Buddleja crispa, Trifolium pratense, Festuca arundinacea, Salix alba, Robinia pseudoacacia, Pyrus pashia, and Morus serrata.