For the first time, China has cloned 10 healthy yaks, marking a breakthrough in high-altitude livestock breeding, researchers announced on Monday.

The breakthrough was realized in Damshung county of Lhasa, Xizang autonomous region, where all 10 cloned yaks were carried to term and born naturally between March 25 and April 5, according to an announcement from the county.

The calves were produced using a self-developed technology that creates 1:1 replications. The development could cut yak breeding cycles from around 20 years to under five and reverse long-standing genetic decline, according to Fang Shengguo, who led the research team from Zhejiang University.