State of the Art of Reproductive Biotechnologies in Buffaloes

Buffalo holds the unique potentiality among the livestock sector at tropical and subtropical area. The faster multiplication of superior genotypes and the conservation of endangered buffalo breeds are the important issue. Recent advances in assisted reproductive technologies (ART), including estrus/ovulation synchronization, multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET), in vitro embryo production (IVEP), cryopreservation of oocytes and embryos, sexing of embryos and semen, and somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) or cloning, offer enormous opportunities not only to improve the productivity, but also to use buffalo for production of many new products through their applications for human health and nutrition. The use of molecular genomics will undoubtedly advance these technologies for their large scale application and resolve the key problems currently associated with advanced reproductive techniques i.e. embryo bank, cloning, stem cell technology and transgenesis. However, the acquisition of more specific information on oocyte and embryo culture requirements in vitro in this species has resulted in an improved efficiency over the years. This review presents the status of technologies and their application to buffalo species, emphasizing the advancement and limitations still to beat.