Sixty-four freshly weaned Holstein calves were stolen overnight from a calf starter barn near the southeast corner of 219 and Coldwater Creek Road in Coldwater, Ohio, in a theft that happened between 10 p.m. on May 2 and 6 a.m. on May 3.
The calves were 13 weeks old and were being started by Selhorst Farms on behalf of Gaerke Brother Farms. Most of their tails are off. Police were on site and conducting an investigation on May 3.
Derek Gaerke said the loss changed what he once thought was impossible. He wrote that the phrase “it will never happen to us” no longer applies, and asked anyone who saw anything or had ideas to contact him immediately. He also told sale barns to be on the lookout for the calves and urged others to be mindful of their own herds and secure them accordingly.
Gaerke thanked the local police department for what he called their quick response, saying, “Thank you for your quick response. You are all truly appreciated.” The barn itself had been a turkey barn before it was converted into a calf starter barn, and the theft has now left one question hanging over the farm community: where did 64 calves stolen Mercer County go in the hours before dawn?
