Increasing agrifood systems' circularity is a sustainable transition pathway in which livestock can play a major role. This study addresses the protometabolism of two small territories (fokontany) from Madagascar highlands: Malaza (MLZ) and Miarinarivo (MRN). This assessment is based on quantification of matter inflows, outflows and circulating between four components: crops, livestock, households and natural areas. Data farming systems management from 30 farms per fokontany has been harvested in 2023. This provides a better understanding of biomasses management and circularity within the two territories with a special focus on role of livestock. MLZ relies more on intensive agriculture, notably irrigated rice, and dairy production. This intensification leads to dependence on external inputs and increased pressure on natural resources. MRN is more focused on household subsistence, relying most on local resources and limiting inflows and outflows. Its agriculture is less intensive, based on rainfed crops and less productive, mainly extensive, forms of livestock farming. Livestock plays a major role in both areas. In MLZ, dairy systems are highly integrated with crops, enabling nutrients to be recycled through the consumption of residues and organic manure deposits. In MRN, while crop-livestock integration (CLI) also exists, notably familiy pig farming systems, extensive zebu rearing partly ensures nutrient transfers from natural areas through daily grazing. These results illustrate different potential solutions for livestock-related circularity. In MLZ, improving manure management and developing agroforestry systems in association could optimize the use of local resources and thus reduce the use of external inputs. In MRN, while CLI remains an issue, the low availability of irrigated land limits agricultural intensification. The improvement of security conditions (zebu theft) are therefore a challenge to ensure territory sustainability.