So its more likely they simply didnt have the MEANS to get meat on a regular basis until AFTER they developed the genetics to properly consume it...
Fascinating actually. This is akin to (IMO) the development of harvest grain at right about the time farming began. (some 8,000 years ago if i recall my notes correctly.)
Until that point, farming grains would have been rather useless, as the crude methods and wild oats would have made (more or less) a lot of big dirt pits in early Mesopotamia.
If this info seems off to anyone, feel free to comment. It's based on the teachings of a prof of mine that has more or less expressed that communism didn't work simply because fo the people in charge... not exactly stellar researcher in my opinion, but an overall good guy.
Please, take it with a grain of salt.
BTW, if both of these ideas are fully correct, it only shows me someone awful big was looking out for us then. Most likely still is :)