64 calves, worth over $100K, stolen from Ohio farm overnight

An Ohio farmer is searching for answers after 64 calves worth more than $100,000 were stolen overnight from a Coldwater farm earlier this week.

According to reports from WHIO-TV and WDTN, the 13-week-old Holstein steer calves disappeared sometime between 10 p.m. on May 2 and 6 a.m. on May 3 from a farm near Coldwater, Ohio, roughly two hours northwest of Columbus. 

Authorities said each calf is worth about $2,000, bringing the estimated loss to well over six figures.

Mercer County Sheriff Doug Timmerman told WHIO-TV the theft appeared highly coordinated, noting someone would have needed a truck, trailer and knowledge of cattle handling to pull it off.

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According to WDTN, gates inside the barn were moved to create a chute system that allowed the calves to be loaded quickly. Younger calves housed at the farm were left behind, leading investigators to believe whoever carried out the theft knew exactly which animals they were targeting.

People reported the calves were taken from a converted turkey barn on Coldwater Creek Road near State Route 219, and many of the animals had docked tails that could help authorities identify them.

Officials have alerted nearby sale barns and farmers across Ohio and Indiana as the investigation continues. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Mercer County Sheriff’s Office.

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