Zipline, an aerial logistics delivery company and Piper Pretty Farms, a livestock business empowering pig farmers in Ghana, have joined forces to deliver swine semen for artificial insemination to enhance the economic livelihood of pig breeding.

Artificial insemination is a time-sensitive procedure, demanding that animals in estrus be inseminated within a strict 48-hour window is often threatened by the slowness, ineffectiveness, and labour-intensive nature of current distribution practices, causing delays that significantly undermine the breeding program's success.

The partnership will leverage Zipline's advanced drone technology to increase the availability of semen doses to up to 1000 doses per week. This significant boost will enhance the insemination process, delivering efficiency in animals' natural cycles and optimising the breeding process.

Maame Esi Amoah, the fulfillment lead at Zipline Mpanya, shared her insights about the collaboration. "At Zipline, we've always been at the forefront of leveraging technology for practical and impactful solutions. Extending our services to the agricultural sector, specifically to support pig farming in Ghana, is a proud milestone for us. In this partnership, we will receive products weekly and store them in our warehouse and incubator for safe delivery to the client. We believe this will improve breeding and showcase innovative livestock farming solutions”.

The swine semen, stored in cold-chain incubators, will be transported by drones with precision drop-off abilities to be accessed for insemination. This innovative method will reduce waste by enhancing semen viability and minimising delivery times, in stark contrast to traditional methods of delivery.

According to the CEO of Piper Pretty, Isaac Asubonteng, Artificial insemination has emerged as the most practical and efficient technique for genetic crossbreeding and would help the industry's evolving demands.

"This collaboration with Zipline is a game-changer for us in Pig farming in Ghana. By enhancing the pig production process, we're improving efficiency and revolutionizing the entire industry. The use of drone technology in delivering swine semen is a significant step forward in ensuring the timely and effective breeding of pigs. Previously, our weekly delivery was 50 doses of semen, but with the Zipline drone delivery, we can reach all catchment areas and do 700 to 1,000 doses of delivery per week. This increase will significantly have economic benefits and ensure that farmers receive optimal value for their products”.

Zipline's initiative is seen as a part of the broader projection towards precision agriculture, where technology is used to increase efficiency and output in farming. Ghana's pig farming sector is poised to significantly see a steady and superior supply of swine semen for genetic crossbreeding via drone operations. This is expected to lead to enhanced breed quality and increased meat production, thereby strengthening food security.