Production of river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves by embryo in vitro production-vitrification and transfer techniques in the Philippines

Abstract

Aimed at producing genetically superior water buffaloes for increased milk and meat purposes, the Philippines through the Philippine Carabao Center endeavoured to develop the advance reproductive biotechnologies. The efficiency of the in vitro embryo production in the production of genetically superior animal was assessed. In Study 1, the viability of in vitro derived vitrified embryos (2n=50) were assessed by non-surgical transfer to river (2n=50) recipients. Study 2 examined the efficiency of swamp buffloes (2n=48) as surrogate mothers of river buffalo embryos, and Study 3 examined the possibility of twinning in water buffaloes by embryo transfer. A Satellite Embryo Biotechnology Laboratory was established in India to secure ovaries from slaughtered river buffaloes and oocytes were collected, matured and fertilized in vitro and cultured for embryo development. In vitro fertilization was carried out using top three progeny tested bulls from National Dairy Development Board of India. Resultant embryos were cryopreserved by vitrification procedure and transported to the Philippines in liquid nitrogen for embryo transfer. Results in Study 1 demonstrated 16.36% (9/55) pregnancy rate and 10.91% (6/55) calving rate. In Study 2, 12.5% (5/40) pregnancy and 10% (4/40) calving rate were achieved and 23.1% (6/26) calving rate was achieved in study 3 with 3.8% (1/26) twinning rate when embryos are transferred in twos. The results demonstrated efficiency of the technology and its potential application in water buffalo genetic improvement program.