author(s)
MK Shukla, OP Shrivastava, Ashitha Suresh, Neeraj Verma, D Kumar, A Tripathi, Shambhavi, Lalit Mohan Jeena and BC Sarkhel

abstract
In the present study the effect of season of oocyte yield and quality was studied in buffaloes. To study the effect of season, 2079 follicles from 439 ovaries in rainy, 1469 follicles from 376 ovaries in summer and 1793 follicles from 310 ovaries in winter season were aspirated. The average number of follicles per ovary in the present study were significantly (p<0.01) higher in winter (5.76±0.12) as compared to rainy (4.75±0.05) and summer (3.90±0.08) seasons. The number of COCs retrieved per ovary and oocyte recovery rate were also significantly higher during winter (3.94±0.09) as compared to rainy (3.15±0.05) and summer (2.62±0.06) seasons. The oocyte recovery rate (%) was also significantly (p<0.01) higher in winter (68.35±0.27) as compared to rainy (66.33±0.50) season. The number of grade I COCs retrieved were significantly (p<0.01) higher in winter (36.32±0.64) as compared to rainy (32.55±0.64) and summer (31.07±0.49) seasons. The results indicate significantly higher quality of retrieved COCs during winter followed by rainy and summer seasons.