The origin of domestic cattle in Africa

It appears likely that in prehistoric times the North African environment was more favourable than it is today to the existence of large numbers of wild animals and therefore presumably to domestic cattle, if they existed. Butzer (1961) states that there was a minor pluvial phase during the period 5000-2350 13.C. and that there is evidence that during this period the marginal belts of vegetation shifted some 62-155 miles (100-250 km.) towards the core of the Sahara while the highland areas became more favoured environments.