Problems at the abattoir have cost pig farmers thousands of pounds this month – and led to a shortage of a locally produced sausages and chops.
Frustrated farmers have had to throw away pork and disappoint customers because a key piece of equipment in the slaughtering process broke and was then replaced. That replacement then had to be sent away again to be adjusted.
However, the Government, which runs the island’s abattoir at La Collette, say that everything is now back up and running.
Kate Hackett, of Brooklands Farm in St Brelade, told Express: “The abattoir was shut for eight weeks because the pig tank, which removed hair off the carcass, had to be sent to Germany for repairs.
“It was then open for two weeks, but it is now shut again.”
For the second week in a row, I’ve delivered the pigs to the abattoir and then had to collect them the same afternoon due to the abattoir’s equipment not working properly
pig farmer jeremy hughes
She added: “We had a big meeting two weeks ago with the abattoir team. It was full of promises and spreadsheets, but didn’t achieve much.
“We heard that a lot of money had been spent on a feasibility project to collocate the abattoir with the knackers’ yard at Trinity, but we know that’s a non-starter because of access and its impact on neighbours.
“We actually don’t have any pigs of the correct weight at the moment but we have lost the equivalent of four pigs, which were worth £2,600 as a deadweight and at least triple that amount as produce ready for the customer.”
Taking to social media this week, Jeremy Hughes of Panigot Farm in St Peter, wrote: “Apologies for those that were expecting pork and / or sausages from us this week.
“For the second week in a row, I’ve delivered the pigs to the abattoir and then had to collect them the same afternoon due to the abattoir’s equipment not working properly.
“This follows a five-week closure due to the other essential pig equipment not working. You couldn’t make it up!”
I usually sell meat to the public and restaurants but I cannot do that at the moment, leaving them to buy imported meat
Jeremy Hughes of Panigot Farm
Speaking to Express, he added: “There seems to be a lack of consistency at the abattoir at the moment.
“The impact is that I usually sell meat to the public and restaurants but I cannot do that at the moment, leaving them to buy imported meat.”
The Government has said while there have been problems, they are now fixed.
In a statement, the Infrastructure and Environment Department, which has responsibility for the facility, said: “We apologise for the recent disruption caused by equipment issues at the abattoir, particularly in our pig processing operations.
“There were issues with some new pig processing equipment which was sent back to the manufacturer to adjust, as well as the hanging rail which resulted in us being unable to process four cattle in one week. We resolved this quickly and those cattle were processed the following week.
“Unfortunately, despite our attempts to rectify the pig processing equipment problems, this took longer to resolve and resulted in us being unable to process some pigs.
“These issues have now been resolved, and normal processing will resume next week. We thank our farming community for their patience during this time.”
On the issue of the abattoir’s future, Express understands that there no funding allocated in the island’s long-term capital plan for the facility at La Collette.