title: Reproductive biotechniques in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis): status, prospects and challenges.
abstract: The swamp buffalo holds tremendous potential in the livestock sector in Asian and Mediterranean countries. Current needs are the faster multiplication of superior genotypes and the conservation of endangered buffalo breeds. Recent advances in assisted reproductive technologies, including in vitro embryo production methodologies, offer enormous opportunities to not only improve productivity, but also to use buffaloes to produce novel products for applications to 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, such as animal cloning, stem cell technology and transgenesis. Preliminary success in the application of modern reproductive technologies warrants further research at the cellular and molecular levels before their commercial exploitation in buffalo breeding programmes.
authors.affiliation: Animal Biotechnology Group, Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Regional Station, Palampur 176 061, India. bsbpalampur@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Chauhan
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Singla
authors.forename: S K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Gautam
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: R S
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Manik
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sodhi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mukesh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D030801:Animals, Genetically Modified; D002020:Buffaloes / Q000196:embryology / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D003001:Cloning, Molecular; D015925:Cryopreservation / Q000662:veterinary; D046149:Embryo Culture Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D004624:Embryo Transfer / Q000662:veterinary; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D018390:Gene Targeting / Q000662:veterinary; D023281:Genomics; D008297:Male; D053652:Nuclear Transfer Techniques / Q000662:veterinary; D054315:Oocyte Retrieval / Q000662:veterinary; D010062:Ovulation Induction / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D012099:Reproductive Techniques / Q000639:trends / Q000662:veterinary*; D012743:Sex Preselection / Q000662:veterinary