Non-invasive oocyte quality assessment remains a major challenge of routine bovine in vitro embryo production (IVP). There is a major need for techniques allowing early selection of developmentally competent oocytes on the basis of a simple, quick, economic and feasible protocol. The availability of such a technique would clearly increase IVP efficiency since only competent oocytes would be used, maximising blastocyst yield by ameliorating culture conditions. This mini-review summarizes briefly the currently available techniques that allow high throughput non-invasive oocyte quality assessment and indicates their possibilities and limitations.