{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,6]],"date-time":"2026-07-06T10:15:02Z","timestamp":1783332902330,"version":"3.54.6"},"reference-count":47,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"13","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,6]],"date-time":"2026-07-06T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1783296000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"National Key Research Project","award":["2024YFD1301302"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2024YFD1301302"]}]},{"name":"Guangxi Key Research and Development Project","award":["AB25069319"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["AB25069319"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Animals"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Nili-Ravi buffalo is a core dairy breed for China\u2019s genetic improvement, yet its assisted reproductive technologies are restricted by low ovum pick-up (OPU) efficiency and unstable embryo transfer (ET) pregnant rates. This study established statistically optimized key parameters for OPU procedures in Nili-Ravi buffalo, and evaluated the effects of multiple ET-related protocols. For OPU, 50\u201355 mmHg vacuum pressure balanced oocyte recovery and usable rate best (p &lt; 0.05). Young and adult buffalo performed significantly better than prepubertal heifers (p &lt; 0.05). Four consecutive weekly consecutive OPU sessions did not significantly reduce oocyte yield (p &gt; 0.05). FSH treatment markedly enhanced oocyte quantity, quality and recovery efficiency (p &lt; 0.05), with no significant difference between two FSH protocols (p &gt; 0.05). For ET, three estrus synchronization protocols showed no significant effects on estrus, ovulation, transferable recipient and pregnant rates in breeding or non-breeding seasons (p &gt; 0.05), though optimized protocols showed a numerical improvement. Combinations of CL grade and embryo quality, as well as post-transfer treatments with vitamin ADE, hCG and progesterone, did not significantly affect pregnancy or early abortion rates (p &gt; 0.05). This study built a practical reference framework for OPU-ET procedures in Nili-Ravi buffalo, with key OPU parameters statistically optimized and ET protocols showing numerical improvements that require further validation with larger sample sizes.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/ani16132086","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,6]],"date-time":"2026-07-06T08:05:38Z","timestamp":1783325138000},"page":"2086","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Optimization of Ovum Pick-Up and Embryo Transfer Techniques for Enhancing Reproductive Efficiency in Nili-Ravi Buffaloes"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"16","author":[{"given":"Yangyang","family":"Fan","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Breeding and Disease Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bo","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Breeding and Disease Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Leyi","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Royal Cell Biological Technology (GUANGXI) Co., Ltd., Nanning 530009, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Cuijin","family":"Teng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Royal Cell Biological Technology (GUANGXI) Co., Ltd., Nanning 530009, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jinping","family":"Xiong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Royal Cell Biological Technology (GUANGXI) Co., Ltd., Nanning 530009, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Jiaqi","family":"Jiang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Buffalo Milk Quality and Safety Control Technology Engineering Research Center, Guangxi Buffalo Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanning 530001, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Qingyou","family":"Liu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-9777-1084","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Kuiqing","family":"Cui","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Animal Science and Technology, Foshan University, Foshan 528225, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3190-2253","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Zhipeng","family":"Li","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Guangxi Key Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Breeding and Disease Control, College of Animal Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2026,7,6]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"227","DOI":"10.3329\/sja.v15i2.35167","article-title":"Buffaloes for dairying in South Asia: Potential, challenges and way forward","volume":"15","author":"Siddiky","year":"2018","journal-title":"SAARC J. 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