OAKFIELD, N.Y. — Just three weeks after the unrecovered theft of 64 weaned Holstein steer calves from a western Ohio grower, another major theft of weaned calves is putting producers on edge. This time the crime occurred in western New York, involving future dairy replacements from a world-renowned Holstein herd. It had a happy ending.

On Sunday, May 24 between 1 and 3 a.m., 17 five-month-old Holstein heifers, weighing around 400 pounds, were stolen from an Oakfield Corners Dairy calf facility on Bliss Road in Genesee County.

Four days later, they were found. Alicia Lamb notified Farmshine around 2 p.m., Wednesday, May 27 with the good news that, “All 17 calves have been located and are safe. At this time, the Sheriff’s Department has asked us to not comment further due to the ongoing investigation.”

Nearby security footage on Lockport Road had been widely circulated, showing a dark dually pickup pulling a cattle trailer, followed closely by a car at 1:21 a.m. Sunday, though investigators said license plate numbers could not be read. The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office is still asking area residents to review any available surveillance footage for that time period.

“This is a post we hoped we’d never have to write. We just want our calves back safely and are very concerned about their wellbeing,” the Lamb family had stated in a public post on Tuesday morning, May 26 after Empire Livestock put out an early alert to sale barns and industry contacts. The posts were shared far and wide.

These incidents, along with a notable increase in recent nationwide reports of similar and smaller groups of calves stolen from beef and dairy operations are heightening security concerns for calf facilities. This includes the theft of 17 calves and heifers from two Jefferson County, New York dairies in January, where a suspect was charged in March but the animals were not recovered.

The Oakfield Corners case involved genomically-identified, Registered Holstein replacement heifers, many reported to be valuable embryo-transfer animals. Each had a DNA genotype record and could still be identified through hair and tissue samples if electronic ID and visual ear tags were removed.

Nationwide, those moving or selling animals should continue to be vigilant and ask questions about calves with evidence of tag removals. It is important to note that without their identification, any potential sale of even elite weaned heifers would most likely have been to beef grower or grade replacement channels.

The thefts come as cattle values continue climbing nationwide, with unweaned 80- to 130-pound Holstein bull calves averaging $1600 and beef-cross calves $2300, while basic 3-day-old Holstein heifer calves average about $1300, according to USDA market reports.

What makes these thefts noteworthy is the perpetrators target a category not often tested at sale barns or in USDA market reports. Weaned 250- to 500-pound Holstein-type calves are not commonly marketed the way newborn dairy calves routinely move in singles or small groups from farms to auctions and buying stations.

Larger groups of weaned Holstein feeder or replacement-type calves appearing “on the market” would tend to attract attention, especially if identification tags appear altered or recently removed. This reality should prompt increased caution among livestock marketers, order buyers, sale barns, buying stations, and contract feeding operations that assemble Holstein-type calves typically placed “on-feed” at 300 to 400 pounds to be alert to the origin of incoming calves, especially heifers.

Like the Ohio theft, investigators believe the perpetrators in New York have familiarity with calf-growing and dairy operations, are capable of quickly loading a sizable group and are targeting weaned calves.

The Oakfield Corners case ended well for the calves, but it has added another dimension: The vulnerability not just of calves in grower facilities destined for beef, but of future milk cows representing years of breeding decisions, genetic advancement, and financial and emotional investment.

Anyone with information is still urged to contact the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office at 1-585-343-5000 as the investigation is ongoing even though these 17 calves are now safe.