Pedigree breeders who had sent bulls for evaluation to the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation's centre in Tully, Co Kildare, where an outbreak of IBR disease struck last month, may seek compensation for losses.
Some top-class bulls which would have been purchased by artificial insemination stations cannot now be used for that purpose because the 220 bulls at the station were vaccinated when the outbreak was spotted.
More than 150 breeders attended a crisis meeting in Portlaoise, Co Laois, on Wednesday night demanding answers from the management of the station, which grades pedigree animals for breeding purposes.
Infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (commonly called IBR or red nose) is an acute and contagious virus of cattle which damages the respiratory system and is difficult to detect.
The cattle-breeding federation, which runs the Tully centre, was forced to cancel sales of bulls which were being held there for evaluation.
The federation told the breeders that best veterinary practice was followed when the outbreak was discovered.
Some breeders are demanding that their bulls be slaughtered and compensation paid for this as well.
The breeders will meet again with the federation next week to determine how to proceed after an incident which has caused turmoil in pedigree cattle-breeding circles because of the importance of the centre to the breeding industry.