3.5. Household income
More than half (53%) of the best-bet households interviewed in October 2009, reported gains in household income over the course of the study. Of the remainder, one household reported no change and the rest were uncertain with no household actually reporting a decline in income. Attributing these changes specifically to the adoption of best-bet strategies and the resultant impact on cattle price or sale number requires caution due to the erratic nature of cattle sales coupled with the confounding effects of the general rise in cattle prices in response to ever growing demand. Even where cattle production has clearly increased and trader interest has grown, most households remain price takers rather than price makers as they sell cattle only when they need cash, rather than as a source of regular income. Nevertheless, many best-bet households report traders actively seeking their cattle as they are in better condition than other cattle in their village or neighbouring villages.