There are many references proving ahirs to be the real kshatriya. the question is not whether they are or not? but objectional is the way to say as if they are doing something wrong. cowherding is every hindus religious emtion. in Hinduism cow is equated with mother. Anybody can go for any profession good or bad for earning livelyhood. Who are we to put a question mark on that. Today many brahmins are running Dairies and keeping cows and buffalows. that does not mean that they are degraded just because they are poor.