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Jersey's abattoir could remain closed for another two weeks, but suggested temporary measures such as sending livestock to Guernsey for slaughter or using mobile facilities are unlikely to happen.
Jersey's Infrastructure Minister Tom Binet has said that he expects the site to re-open on 10 December, and that the team are doing “all they can to bring that date forward”.
The abattoir was closed shortly before Storm Ciarán hit for routine maintenance, but it then suffered extensive damage to its roof, main structure and equipment during the storm.
Repair efforts have been complicated by the presence of asbestos which means a deep clean of the building is needed before the electrics can be fixed.
In response to questions about support for farmers while the abattoir remains closed, Deputy Binet said that "...outsourcing to Guernsey is complicated, because they could only take some kinds of animals and that would have also taken too long".
He had also said a scaffolding shortage is affecting the planned repairs, and that the idea of importing a mobile unit to use in the meantime wouldn't have arrived until after the abattoir could be reopened.
Pictured: States Vet, David Chamberlain.
Guernsey's States Vet had said last week that he was in talks with Jersey officials about bringing sheep, pigs and goats here for slaughter, but cows would be unlikely to be able to travel over even to go straight to the abattoir because of strict rules protecting the local herd.
David Chamberlain explained that the difference in laws between cattle and other livestock means smaller animals could be imported for slaughter more easily. There are other laws which wouldn't apply because the animals would simply be here to be culled not to enter the farming industry or food chain.
However, he also said that he didn't want to set a precedent for the transportation of animals across the channel for slaughter.
He said that while his team wants "to help our colleagues in Jersey", they must also ensure that "we don’t set a precedent that could threaten our island breed".
"I am working with the finest Law Officers to try to find a solution," Mr Chamberlain added, but it now seems they've been unable to do that.
Pictured: Deputy Binet said using Guernsey's abattoir is unlikely to happen.
Other problems which may have hampered the suggested co-operation were acknowledged by Mr Chamberlain last week while the talks between the two islands were ongoing.
He had warned that Guernsey's abattoir is currently running at full capacity, fulfilling needs of farmers and shoppers here, and that there was no spare chiller space for meat returning to Jersey so farmers would have had to provide a chiller lorry to house their meat.
Mr Chamberlain had said that, while our abattoir is smaller than the one in Jersey, "we certainly would do everything in our power to assist a friend in need as it were", but it seems that in this case no solution could be found.
Jersey's Deputy Binet has said that upon re-opening, there would be 60 animals requiring slaughter, and staff at Jersey's own abattoir have agreed to work overtime to clear the backlog within a week.
The only support he could give farmers affected by the closure, he said, would be subsiding feedstuffs for continuing weeks animals have to be maintained – an intervention that falls within the Economic Development Minister's remit.
Pictured top: Guernsey's abattoir at Longue Hougue.
Guernsey's abattoir could be used while Jersey's is repaired
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