Contents Bovine oocytes and embryos produced in vitro were studied to determine the mitochondrial pattern of distribution, segregation and activity using DIOC 6 and Jc‐1 fluorescence. The highest fluorescence level observed in mature oocytes was taken as 100% activity and six activity levels were estimated as follows: (1) 0%, (2) 1–15%, (3) 16–30%, (4) 31–50%, (5) 51–75% and (6) 76–100%. Three patterns of mitochondrial distribution were found: (1) diffused throughout the cytoplasm in oocytes and embryos, (2) pericytoplasmic in oocytes and embryos, and (3) perinuclear only in embryos. The segregation of mitochondria in blastomeres showed two distinct patterns: (1) symmetrical with an even mitochondrial population, and (2) asymmetrical with different numbers of mitochondria in each blastomere. In immature oocytes, mitochondrial activity was very low and the distribution was diffuse or negligible, while in mature oocytes the activity was high and the distribution was diffuse or pericytoplasmic. Competent embryos up to the 16‐cell stage showed intermediate levels of activity (16–50%) but activity decreased thereafter up to the blastocyst stage. Non‐competent embryos showed low levels of activity (1–15%) at all stages. These results suggest that mitochondria might play an important role during early development and that a minimum threshold of activity regulates the potential competence for reaching the blastocyst stage.