Plans to clone over 100 yaks by 2028

China plans to expand its cloned yak population to more than 100 by 2028, as a newly developed breeding technology moves toward industrial application following a breakthrough in batch cloning, researchers said.

The goal was outlined by Fang Shengguo, a professor at the College of Life Sciences at Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, who led the research team, following China's first successful batch cloning and natural delivery of 10 yaks in Damshung county, Lhasa, Xizang autonomous region.

The calves were all carried to term and born naturally between March 25 and April 5, marking a shift from experimental success to small-scale, replicable production.

Fang said the team aims to move from the current "1-to-10" stage to "10-to-100+" by 2028, building a core population of more than 100 elite cloned yaks selected through whole genome analysis, while developing the first improved yak strain adapted to high-altitude environments and establishing standardized breeding protocols.

The breakthrough was built on the birth of the world's first cloned yak, "Nam Co No 1", in July 2025, marking a milestone in applying somatic cell cloning to plateau livestock.

According to Fang, the technology integrates whole genome selection and somatic cell cloning. Researchers sequenced nearly 9,000 yaks across Xizang to identify top-tier "seed yaks" with desirable traits such as fast growth, strong fertility, disease resistance and high-altitude adaptability. These elite genotypes are then replicated through cloning, enabling precise and rapid propagation.

The approach significantly shortens the traditional breeding cycle from 20 to 30 years to about five years, while allowing rapid expansion of high-quality breeding populations, he said.

Hu Ke, head of Damshung county, said the technology addresses longstanding challenges in the region's yak industry. Over the past three decades, genetic resources have degraded due to multiple factors, with declines in body size, weight, fertility and disease resistance, while conventional breeding methods have remained slow and inefficient.

"The breakthrough provides a new technological pathway for rescuing and protecting yak genetic resources and for accelerating the expansion of improved breeds," Hu said.

He added that the achievement also fills a gap in cloning technology for large mammals at high altitudes and carries broader significance for safeguarding biodiversity, increasing herders' incomes and supporting ecological conservation on the plateau.

The project has already produced 11 healthy cloned calves and established a stable somatic cell system for yak breeding. The first cloned yak, "Nam Co No 1", weighed 16.75 kilograms at birth and reached 183.25 kg after nine months, demonstrating strong growth performance.

Researchers have also outlined plans to scale up embryo production, expand surrogate cattle reserves and develop dedicated forage systems to support the new yak strain, Fang said.

A yak breeding and germplasm conservation innovation center was inaugurated on Monday at an altitude of 4,300 meters in Damshung, where the cloned calves are being raised.

Hu said the county will further deepen industry-academia-research cooperation, accelerate the development of high-quality yak breeding bases and build a highland innovation hub for yak breeding.

Yaks are endemic to the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and are a key source of livelihood for local herding communities, as well as an integral part of the region's fragile ecosystem.

Contact the writers at zhengjinran@chinadaily.com.cn