OSAGE, Iowa — Authorities say a Hayfield man has been arrested in the theft of several hundred feeder pigs from producers in Mitchell County in northern Iowa.

Arndt

John Arndt was taken into custody on Tuesday in Mower County.

Arndt has been charged with ongoing criminal conduct, first-degree theft, conspiracy, offenses related to animal production facilities and possession of burglary tools, the Mason City Globe Gazette reports. Many of the charges are felonies.

He’s being held on $47,000 bond in the Mower County jail pending extradition to Iowa.

Arndt’s case is not listed on Iowa’s online court system, and it wasn’t known if he has an attorney.

Mitchell County Deputy Greg Beaver says the pigs were stolen over several months, from November 2010 to September, and sold at livestock auctions. Beaver says more arrests are expected.

The Mower County and Mitchell County sheriff’s departments were involved in the investigation.