In the early hours of May 3, 2026, authorities discovered that 64 Holstein calves had been stolen from a farm in Mercer County, Ohio. This incident underscores the increasing value of beef and the growing challenges farmers face regarding cattle security.
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, bringing the total estimated value of the stolen animals to around $50,000. The calves were approximately 13 weeks old and weighed about 250 pounds each.
The Gaerke family operates multiple farms in the area and has thousands of head of cattle. They reported that the calves were housed in a converted poultry barn—a setup that likely made them vulnerable to skilled thieves.
Mercer County Sheriff Doug Timmerman described the theft as highly coordinated, indicating that the perpetrators had experience with cattle handling. He noted, “This is somebody that completely understands the industry and how it works.” Authorities believe the thieves likely had prior knowledge of both the building and the animals.
Currently, there is little to no physical evidence available to investigators. The local agricultural community has been alerted to watch for the stolen calves as law enforcement reviews footage from security cameras in hopes of identifying the culprits.
Sheriff Timmerman emphasized the importance of vigilance within the farming community, stating, “If the deal is too good to be true, it’s too good to be true.” He added that with beef prices soaring—”You can probably tell by going to the grocery store recently—that the price of beef is extremely high,”—the risk of livestock theft is likely to increase.
In response to this incident, the Ohio Farm Bureau is offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction. As investigations continue, local farmers remain on alert for any suspicious activity related to livestock sales.
