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Thieves Steal Calves From California Dairy Farm


Dairy farmers across the Central Valley are on alert right now after thieves hit one dairy– hard.

“We make an honest living,” says Margaret Silva, as she walks through her family’s dairy in the community Hilmar, in Merced County.

Her family has had the dairy for 30 years, in that time raising countless Jersey and Holstein cows.

In one area, you’ll find the newest generation of dairy cows—born hours before.

But the Silva family doesn’t have as many as it should.
KMPH FOX 26 | Central San Joaquin Valley News Source

“It’s unimaginable how someone could do that to us. I don’t understand,” she says.

Sometime late Friday or early Saturday, someone broke into another one of the families sites and stole 20 calves.

Pictures taken at the scene show the calves were dragged.

But there’s no telling how they were taken from the site—and how many were involved.

“They’re our kids. It’s disgusting. I’m just so mad,” Silva says.

Some were two days old.

Others, just weeks.

They’re worth between $300 and $500.

Silva’s husband checked with workers who live near the site, neighbors and even a man spraying a nearby almond orchard.

No one saw anything.

“How can someone come on your property, think it’s okay to take someone’s livelihood? We support families– they depend on us. We depend on our animals,” Silva says. “Take care of your animals, they take care of you.”

She shared the ordeal on the Facebook page “My Job Depends on Ag“.

While she’s focused on supporting detectives who are looking for the calves – she’s also making it a priority to warn others.

“Watch your herd, make sure you know your neighbors and if you see anything suspicious, get on your local farm watch,” she says.

The calves had white, green or blue ear tags.

The detectives have already alerted auction houses across the state, should the thieves try to take them there.

Source: KMPH-KFRE


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