The Water Buffalo: Advances in genetics, nutrition, and reproductive biotechnology for sustainable agricultural development

The water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) has emerged not merely as an alternative species, but as a keystone organism in the redesign of livestock systems that are ecologically sound, economically viable, and resilient to climate variability. Its distinctive anatomy, remarkable adaptability to both intensive and extensive systems, and productive efficiency in dual-purpose operations position it as a strategic model to address contemporary challenges in food security and climate change mitigation.

Recent advances in molecular genetics, nutritional physiology, reproductive performance and biotechnologies have significantly transformed water buffalo production. Improvements in the quality and functional properties of its milk, meat, and derivatives are increasingly evident. Genomic selection for productive and adaptive traits, functional nutrition targeting the ruminal microbiome, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, pasture-based feeding strategies, and the use of both conventional and renewable energy sources—alongside cutting-edge reproductive technologies—have contributed to unlocking the species’ full biological potential.

This Research Topic aims to consolidate a multidisciplinary scientific collection that gathers and expands knowledge on the strategic role of the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in sustainable livestock development. The goal is to highlight the synergistic potential of genetic improvement, precision feeding, enhanced reproductive management, and reproductive biotechnologies to strengthen the efficiency, resilience, and welfare of this species across diverse production systems, from extensive to intensive. We also seek to gather evidence positioning the water buffalo as a pivotal species within future agri-food systems—one that integrates science, ethics, and sustainability in the face of pressing global challenges.

We invite researchers and professionals to submit original research articles, systematic reviews, narrative reviews, and mini-reviews addressing recent advances in genetics, nutrition, reproductive biology, and biotechnologies applied to the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis).

In the reproductive field, we welcome contributions on biotechnologies such as artificial insemination, cryopreservation, synchronization protocols, in vitro embryo production, and strategies to enhance reproductive efficiency during gestation, calving, and lactation in dairy buffaloes across different production systems. Submissions focusing on genomic selection for heat stress resilience, genetic conservation, gene editing, and omics-based approaches are also highly encouraged.

In nutrition, we seek studies on strategic feeding, rumen fermentation, microbiota, nutrigenomics, pasture-based systems, and sustainability-oriented energy sourcing (conventional and renewable), along with their effects on the functional quality of meat, milk, and derivatives.

Interdisciplinary contributions exploring how these advancements intersect with environmental impact reduction and the socioeconomic development of buffalo-based livestock systems in arid, dry, tropical, and subtropical regions are especially welcome.

This collection also invites integrative approaches that evaluate environmental impact through life cycle assessment, aiming to enhance sustainability, and the buffalo’s contribution to ecosystems and agricultural economies at multiple market scales.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Conceptual Analysis
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy and Practice Reviews
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Bubalus bubalis, water buffalo, genetics, genomic selection, functional feeding, gestation, calving, lactation, reproductive performance, reproductive biotechnologies, sustainable production, ecosystem services, ruminal microbiome, milk and meat quality

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.