The German beef sector is still contracting sharply.

The German beef sector is still contracting sharply, characterised by way of a shrinking cattle herd and lower throughput at abattoirs - whereas the pig industry appears stable despite last year's depressed prices.

The cattle census directioned last November placed the German herd at 137 million head, down 37% year-on-year, according to the German statistics office.

This followed shrinkage of about 24% between November 2000 and November 2001 - i.e. the herd is being slimmed down more rapidly steady though the BSE crisis is now fading into the past.

Overall, in the year to November 2002 numbers