To investigate the varied and elusive etiology of repeat breeding (RB) in dairy cows, the present study evaluated the oocytes and follicles in the RB cows, both of which have not been addressed earlier in same set of cows. Accordingly, the characteristics of preovulatory follicles and the competence of oocytes were evaluated in control (CTL) and RB Israeli Holstein cows. The estrous cycles of 35 cows (18 CTL and 17 RB) were synchronized. At 14 to 15 d after a visible behavioral estrus the cows received a PGF_2α injection, followed after 48 h by follicular follicle (FF) aspiration. The follicles results were analyzed with the GLM procedure of SAS, and the effect of cluster was included in the model. The estradiol (E₂)-active preovulatory follicles did not differ in diameter between the 2 groups, but the FF of RB cows had higher E₂ concentrations than those of the CTL cows (1854.9 vs. 1073.6 ng/mL; P < 0.0005), but similar androstenedione (P = 0.75) and progesterone (P = 0.98) concentrations. In the second part of the study, 14 consecutive ovum pick-up (OPU) sessions at 3 to 4 d interval were performed in 5 CTL and 5 RB cows. Data of OPU results were analyzed with the Proc Mixed procedure of SAS, and the model included effects of group, cow, session, and group × session interaction. The RB and CTL cows did not differ in the average numbers of follicles available per cow per session (7.1 and 7.3, respectively; P < 0.77) or oocyte recovery rates (42.2 and 44.1%, respectively; P < 0.68) or cleavage rate (57.6 and 63.4%, respectively; P < 0.23), but blastocyst production was markedly less in RB than in CTL cows (12.5 and 29.2%, respectively; P < 0.002). It might be concluded that part of the RB cows' etiology occurs at an earlier phase of folliculogenesis, thereby impairing oocyte competence, which reduces in later stages the probability of normal fertilization and diminishing embryo vitality and development.