World’s First Cloned Cow Dies of Old Age in Japan

May 15, 2018

Kanazawa, Ishikawa Pref.- The world's first cloned cow, produced with a body cell from an adult cow, died of old age on Monday, the prefectural government of Ishikawa, central Japan, has said.

The female cow, Noto, was 19 years and 10 months old.

It began breathing hard and became limp on May 4, according to the livestock experiment station of the prefecture's agriculture and forestry research center.

The cow recovered to eat feed by itself after nutrient was administered. But the animal was confirmed dead after its condition suddenly worsened on Monday afternoon.

Noto was born as a twin in July 1998 in a joint project with Kindai University. Its sibling, Kaga, is alive and being taken care of at the livestock station.

Cows can live for about 20 years, equivalent to 80-100 years old for humans. Jiji Press