Authorities are investigating a highly coordinated theft of 64 Holstein calves from a farm in Mercer County, Ohio. The incident occurred between 10 p.m. on May 2 and shortly after 6 a.m. on May 3. Each calf is valued between $1,800 and $2,000, totaling an estimated value of $50,000.
The calves were approximately 13 weeks old and weighed about 250 pounds each. They were housed in a converted poultry barn at Gaerke Brother Farms. Sheriff Doug Timmerman described the theft as highly coordinated, indicating that the perpetrators likely had experience with cattle handling.
Sheriff Timmerman noted that the thieves probably had knowledge of the building and the animals. Currently, there is little to no physical evidence available to investigators. The investigation is ongoing as authorities review security camera footage from the area.
The local agricultural community has been alerted to watch for the stolen calves. The Ohio Farm Bureau is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for this theft.
Beef prices have risen significantly in recent years, making cattle more sought after. “You can probably tell by going to the grocery store recently that the price of beef is extremely high,” said Sheriff Timmerman. This rise in value may contribute to increasing incidents of agricultural crime.
As of midday, no arrests have been made, and officials have not confirmed the exact method used by the thieves to carry out this operation. The current location of the stolen calves remains unknown.
This incident highlights ongoing challenges in cattle security for Ohio’s farming community. “If the deal is too good to be true, it’s too good to be true,” Sheriff Timmerman advised farmers to be vigilant against such crimes.
