LEADERS of Britain's beef cattle industry won their battle for separate representation under the umbrella of the National Cattle Association (NCA) at an extraordinary meeting yesterday.

The spotlight will fall on how far the industry is prepared to finance a major lobbying and

promotional effort for the sector.

A more detailed announcement of the plans for this subsidiary - which may be called the National Beef Association - is expected to be made at Beef '98 in Fife on

Friday.

There was an overwhelming majority in favour of retaining the NCA umbrella, but a much

narrower majority for setting up

subsidiary companies to deal

separately with the affairs of the beef and dairy sectors.

Commenting after the meeting NCA chairman Billy Kilpatrick, who farms at Craigie Mains,

Kilmarnock, was pleased the overall organisation had been retained.

''I think it would have been a serious blow to the cattle industry if it had disappeared. We provided a single voice in discussions with the Government.''

But he was less than enthusiastic about the formation of sectoral subsidiaries and said the dairy

sector in particular would have to take stock.

''It should be remembered that about 50% of the beef in this country still comes from the dairy herd,'' he added. In contrast, beef cattle representatives such as David Benson, chief executive of the British Charolais Cattle

Society, and Roger Trewhella of the Simmentals were much more optimistic.

''We feel the beef sector has to become much more focused in terms of representation and promotion and that will need much more support from beef farmers,'' said Benson. ''But there are lots of common issues to be tackled and I don't see the need for us to fall out with the dairy sector.''

Trewhella said the vote had produced little surprise. ''The result should enable positive development for the whole cattle industry with a much clearer focus,'' he claimed. ''The Scottish Beef Council has provided a tremendous example of what can be achieved and I would hope this could be repeated over the whole industry.''

The focus for the dairy sector is less clear, although facilities at the Holstein Friesian Society's headquarters - where the NCA secretariat is based - are capable of handling much more, even assuming the HFS amalgamation with the British Holstein Society goes through.

But it may be that the Royal Association of British Dairy Farmers will attract some defectors, particularly as it has raised its political profile recently with the appointment of Ex-Adas dairy specialist John Sumner as policy adviser. This association is due to post a surplus of #34,000 at its annual meeting tomorrow.

John Cameron, chairman of the Scottish Beef Council, who will be hosting the Beef '98 event at his farm at Balbuthie in Fife on Friday hoped the new development would stimulate further membership and enhance the influence of the beef lobby. Individual producers were the essence of any specialist organisation, he said, and the beef council already had more than 500 members in Scotland alone.

The decision by the Secretary of State for Scotland, Donald Dewar, to perform the official opening of Beef '98 was indicative of the importance attached to the beef sector in Scotland.