In the quiet, early hours of Sunday morning, a piece of generational legacy was taken from the heart of Oakfield Corners in New York. Between 1:00 AM and 3:00 AM, thieves targeted the calf facility on Bliss Road, making off with 17 Holstein heifers.
For the owners, this is more than a significant financial loss — it is a violation of a farm that has been a pillar of the community since the Lamb family first started milking 110 cows here in 1966. While the farm has grown into a hub of activity — milking 2,400 cows and farming 8,500 acres across multiple sites — the focus today is narrowed down to the safety of 17 young animals.
The Search for the Next Generation
The stolen calves are approximately five-month-old Holstein calves. Beyond their size and breed, they carry specific identifiers that make them unique and easily traceable for anyone in the cattle industry:
- Electronic ID: A button in the left ear.
- Visual Tags: One or two large tags in both ears.
- Genotyped: Each calf has an ear punch in the right ear. Because they have been genotyped, their identity can be verified with a simple hair or tissue sample.
“Our primary concern is the health and wellbeing of these calves and having them returned safely,” the farm stated. “We are very concerned about their well-being.”
A Call to Action for Neighbors and Industry Peers
Investigation into the theft suggests the suspects drove west on Lockport Road toward the Alabama Hotel/Holley Farm intersection after leaving the Bliss Road facility.
The farm is asking the community for immediate assistance:
- Neighbors: If you have security cameras along Lockport Road or near the Alabama/Holley Farm intersection, please check your footage from Sunday morning between 1:00 AM and 3:00 AM for a truck hauling a cattle trailer.
- Cattle Industry Professionals: Please remain vigilant. If you see calves fitting this description being offered for sale, or if a group of 17 heifers suddenly appears at a local facility, report it immediately.
A Growing Trend of Cattle Rusting in 2026
The theft at Oakfield Corners is not an isolated incident. Across the country, livestock theft has surged as cattle prices hit record highs this year. With the U.S. dairy heifer supply at its lowest level in decades, replacement heifers have become high-value targets for sophisticated theft operations. Just this month, similar coordinate heists have been reported across the Midwest, as criminals take advantage of the premium market for genotyped dairy stock. This trend has prompted lawmakers in several states to propose stiffer penalties, moving livestock theft from a misdemeanor to a high-level felony in response to the increasing financial threat to farm families.
How to Help
Oakfield Corners is a place of transparency and community, where visitors often gather at the rotary milking parlor to learn about dairy farming. Now, they are asking the community they serve to help them protect their animals.
If you have any information, no matter how small it may seem, please contact the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office at (585) 345-3000.
