An incremental approach was taken to the development and implementation of the particular package of best-bet strategies that were identified for each participating household. The initial focus was typically to address identified forage supply and quality constraints through modest plantings of selected forages. The confidence and trust arising from the successful employment of these comparatively simple and low risk technologies was then used as the entry point for testing more complex animal management strategies which require long-term planning and investment. Based on the results of the initial modest plantings, the participant households then chose to expand the area of production and focus on a smaller number of preferred species. In many cases the households went onto adopt several best-bet technologies that were not specifically identified in their initial package. One very good example of this development occurred in Mertak village where many of the best-bet households introduced dual purpose food and fodder crops of maize and cassava to provide cattle feed during the mid to late dry season while preserving their tree legume supplies for use later in the dry season. Several Mertak smallholders reported that their experience of trying the new forage sources and the consequent improvement in the condition of their cattle gave them the necessary confidence to invest significant resources in growing crops for cattle forage.