Reproduction and genetic diversity of the swamp buffalo

Abstract

The water buffalo is one of the most important domestic animals in Southeast Asia. Together with the elephant it is a national symbol in Thailand. Until two decades ago, Thailand harbored the largest buffalo population after China. Its draft power has been of high significance for agriculture, and Thai farmers used bulls to prepare the land to plant rice. The buffalo has also been used as a transportation animal. Artificial insemination was applied in Thailand but is inefficient due to suboptimal heat detection. To improve postpartum buffalo reproduction efficiency, proper husbandry management such as quality of nutrition, optimal estrus detection and a fertile buffalo bull are crucial. In this study, the postpartum buffalo could be successfully mated within two months postpartum at the second spontaneous ovulation, even without hormonal treatment. Embryo transfer would allow a wider exploitation and dissemination of superior swamp buffalo genotypes. We demonstrated that oocytes for IVM and IVF can be collected successfully by OPU without hormonal pretreatment, and those twice weekly pick-up results in better quality oocytes than once-weekly pick-up. Insight in the genetic constitution of water buffalo may prove essential for the preservation and utilization of the genetic resources of Thailand.