Genetics and reproduction in buffalo: latest insights into the genetic architecture of reproductive traits

Buffaloes are integral to the agricultural economies of numerous countries, providing essential contributions to milk and meat production, as well as draught power. Fertility in buffaloes is a complex quantitative trait that significantly affects both production and economic efficiency. Therefore, elucidating the genetic architecture underlying reproductive traits in buffaloes is critical for the development of sustainable breeding programs aimed at enhancing reproductive performance. This review provides an overview of the genetic basis of buffalo reproduction, summarizing recent advances in the estimation of genetic parameters for reproductive traits. It also consolidates information on genomic regions and candidate genes associated with reproductive traits, identified through genome-wide association studies (GWAS), selection signature analysis, and transcriptome profiling. Additionally, this review discusses the functional enrichment analysis and molecular networks among these candidate genes.