STM Article Repository

The present experiment was designed to study the effect of seasonal variations on ovarian biometry, ovarian surface visible follicle number, oocyte recovery rate, and quality of recovered oocytes in buffaloes. Ovaries were collected from slaughtered buffaloes during the winter and summer seasons. The size (length and width) and weight of each ovary were measured. Grossly visible follicles on the surface of the ovary were counted, aspirated and oocytes were retrieved and evaluated. The biometrical studies revealed that the length and weight of the right ovaries were significantly higher (p<0.05) during the winter than in the summer season. However, the effect of season on the length, width, and weight of left ovaries and ovaries with corpus luteum and without corpus luteum was non-significant. The average surface follicle count per ovary was significantly (p<0.05) higher in ovaries collected during winter season than in summer. Furthermore, a significantly higher (p<0.05) oocyte recovery rate was obtained from the ovaries collected during the winter season. Ovaries collected during the winter and summer season had a higher (p<0.05) proportion of grade-A and grade-D oocytes, respectively. The results indicated that summer can adversely affect the functional activity of the ovaries to produce follicles suitable to give a high incidence of good quality oocytes.