The two main farm organisations were criticised at the weekend for failing to become involved with the veterinary organisations in a promotion to combat the spread of brucellosis in cattle.
Mr Pat Brady, the general secretary of the Irish Veterinary Union, told his organisation's a.g.m. that brucellosis, which causes abortion in cows and is harmful to human health, is now the greatest threat to the status of the national herd.
"We are hoping to organise a joint campaign with the Irish Veterinary Association in November. Disappointingly, approaches made to the farm organisations to become involved at a national level on this did not even get a response," he said.
Mr Brady said relations with the farm organisations at national level did not reflect the reality of relations between farmers and vets on the ground.
He reminded delegates attending the a.g.m. in the Silver Springs Hotel, Cork, that it was the Irish Farmers' Association which had complained to the Competitions Authority over alleged price-fixing for bovine TB testing.
This had led to the offices of the IVU being searched and 170 files, including private, personal files, being removed from the offices.
Mr Brady said he still contended that advice to the membership on suggested fees did not constitute price-fixing, and it was significant that the fees eventually agreed with the Department of Agriculture were very close, and in some case identical, to the suggestions the IVU made to its members.
Many of the veterinary surgeons at the meeting expressed concern at the spread of brucellosis and the need for information programmes to prevent more damage. There was general agreement that good farming practice backed by sound veterinary advice was the key to eliminating the disease.
Concern was also expressed at the dramatic fall in cattle prices and stock prices generally because this impacts directly on the fortunes of Irish vets. A Kilkenny veterinary surgeon, Mr Pascal Gibbons, was elected president of the IVU.