Dairy production manager Dave Domaille said that the new machine had been bought to replace the current pasteuriser used for organic milk which was around 35 years old and at the end of its anticipated operating life.
‘Given its different dimensions, to install the new pasteuriser in the same location as the current one will require some structural alterations,’ he said.
‘We are therefore delaying that for now, while we await some further direction on the Future Guernsey Dairy project. That is likely to be considered again by the States again as part of the capital portfolio debate in 2026.’
Including all shipping costs the final bill for the new machine was £25,700.
Sark Dairy had been interested in buying the old machine as it looks to restart milk production in the island in the spring.
‘We had discussions with Sark Dairy regarding the potential purchase of our current pasteuriser, but unfortunately that is no longer available for now,’ said Mr Domaille.
‘Given the current delay, and if it will assist them, we would be open to them acquiring our new pasteuriser, if a commercial deal can be agreed.’
However, Sark’s Seigneur and community dairy trustee Christopher Beaumont said that the cost of the unwanted new machine was too high.
‘Where we were looking at was perhaps £6,000 for second-hand, but it’s £25,000 for the one they now want to dispose of,’ he said.
‘While it would be lovely to have it, frankly, that’s beyond our means.’
He added that Sark Dairy was now looking to the second-hand market elsewhere.
‘We still hope for our new Dairy farmers to be arriving in January but it’s essentially dependent on finding a pasteuriser,’ he said.
‘There are moves afoot in England as we speak, to go and look at second-hand one’
Pasteurisers are an essential component in the milk production process, heating the raw milk to remove pathogens and extend the product’s shelf life.