Actavia 0 Wang, Z.G. XU, Z.R. YU, S.D. 2007 2007-1-31 21-25 The oocytes (experiment 1) were harvested by one of the four collection techniques (slicing, puncture, aspiration I and aspiration II) and the total number and the number of each grade of oocytes were counted, respectively. The good-quality oocytes (good and fair grade) were cultured for maturation. In experiment 2, the oocytes were matured in TCM-199 supplemented with 10 ng/ml of epidermal growth factor (EGF) or 10% FCS, either alone or with 1 IU/ml FSH, or the oocytes were matured in TCM-199 supplemented with 1 IU/ml FSH. After maturation, the oocytes in the two experiments were fertilized, respectively. Slicing (6.3) and puncture (5.8) of the ovaries yielded a higher (P < 0.05) number of oocytes per ovary compared to aspiration I (2.9) and aspiration II (3.1). Oocytes matured in the TCM-199 medium supplemented with EGF or FCS with FSH had a significantly higher proportion of blastocysts than the other treatments (P < 0.05). In conclusion, slicing and puncture are alternative techniques of oocyte recovery in Boer goat. The TCM-199 medium supplemented with EGF or FCS in the presence of FSH is suitable for in vitro maturation of oocytes. 1 52