In Vitro Embryo Production in Water Buffalo

In vitro embryo production (IVEP) is a promising tool with many applications in producing calves from genetically superior animals desired for propagation and in the conservation and revival of endangered species. The techniques of IVEP were adopted from cattle and refined to suit the water buffalo requirements. From the collection of ovaries from a local abattoir and the collection of oocytes by ovum pick up from live animals, gamete storage, collection techniques, handling of ovaries and oocytes to keep the viability and developmental competence, selection of oocytes to the type of culture media and in vitro culture condition, and treatment of the sperm cells for in vitro fertilization are all-important components of the process that requires careful and precise action to ensure success. Trials on intracytoplasmic injection, the use of sex-sorted sperm cells as a tool for producing sex-predetermined embryos, and the somatic cell nuclear transfer are methods that can be used to produce embryos in vitro. This paper provides the important considerations involved in the production of healthy live calves out of in vitro-produced water buffalo embryos

Expression and Role of PIWI Proteins and piRNAs in Reproduction of Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis, Linn.)

High-fertile and productive dairy animals are important to satisfy the growing population's demand. Sire fertility is one of the essential factors that regulate the overall pregnancy rate of dairy herds. However, sire fertility varies from 10 to 90%, suggesting that male fertility largely accounts for varying fertility levels across the herd. Sub-fertile bulls and females should be identified and discarded promptly to improve the dairy herd's productivity. The most dominant factors implicated in culling are poor semen quality, poor semen freezability (<35% post-thaw motility), and poor libido for the bulls and hard breeders for females that cause huge economic loss to the raisers. Understanding the basic mechanism of male and female fertility has undergone tremendous change in recent times owing to the advancement of molecular tools judging the essential molecules responsible for fertility. Presently, a new molecular niche has surfaced in testes, strongly influencing the fertilization potential of spermatozoa. Over the last decade, there has arrived a conclusion that out of several factors, piRNA and PIWI proteins are largely implicated in regulating the vital aspects of fertility and embryogenesis. While this development is advancing in other animals, very limited information is available on PIWI protein and piRNAs in large animals. Except for a few sporadic information on PIWI protein in cattle, very limited information is available on piRNAs and PIWI protein in regulation with buffalo bull fertility and growth of embryos of buffaloes, posting a huge demand for research

Safe and Sustainable Traditional Production: The Water Buffalo in Asia

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