After all, several scholars including D.N. Jha (a review of his book is here: <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2002/jul/13/historybooks.highereducation)">http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2002/jul/13/historybooks.highereducation)</a> have pointed out that Brahmins and other upper castes ate beef in Vedic times.