Sustainable breeding approaches for genetic improvement of Indian Buffalo populations

Buffaloes significantly contribute to India's livestock and economy, producing 53% of the country's milk. Buffaloes struggle with reproductive efficiency, marked by delayed maturity, prolonged postpartum recovery, poor oestrus expression, low conception rates and extended calving intervals. The primary objective of buffalo breeding is to produce more offspring, healthier young ones with reduced mortality and superior quality progeny. To achieve this, breeders require effective reproductive tools, strategies to overcome reproductive challenges and remedies to enhance fertility and efficiency. Key strategies to overcome reproductive challenges are strengthening the extension services and training, upgrading the reproductive health services, and providing accessible, high-quality germplasm and AI services. Modern animal breeding and reproduction technologies will be employed to enhance the genetic potential of buffaloes. Assisted reproductive technologies revolutionize buffalo genetics and breeding. Genomic selection is the preferred method for buffalo breeding, providing increased selection accuracy, shortened generation intervals, predictable breeding values and rapid genetic improvement.