Authorities are investigating a highly coordinated theft of 64 Holstein calves from a farm in Mercer County, Ohio. The theft 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.
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 had experience with cattle handling.
Sheriff Timmerman believes the thieves likely had knowledge of the building and the animals. He stated, “This is somebody that completely understands the industry and how it works.” The local agricultural community has been alerted to watch for the stolen calves.
Investigators face challenges in solving this case. There is little to no physical evidence available to them at this time. Authorities are reviewing footage from security cameras in hopes of identifying suspects.
The price of beef has increased significantly in recent years, making cattle more sought after. Sheriff Timmerman noted, “You can probably tell by going to the grocery store recently that the price of beef is extremely high.” This rise in beef prices has led to an increase in agricultural crime.
The Gaerke family operates multiple farms and has thousands of head of cattle. The Ohio Farm Bureau is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for this theft.
Yet, uncertainties remain regarding the exact method used by the thieves to steal the calves. The current location of the stolen animals is also unknown.
