Merrick County authorities are looking into a possible animal cruelty case.

Sheriff Tony McPhillips said he found about 20 dead cattle this week on land owned by a Grand Island man.

The man who owns the land also owned the cattle. He told McPhillips that he arranged for someone to feed and water the cattle while he was out of town, but apparently no one tended to the animals.

McPhillips said he's preparing a report for the county attorney on whether the owner committed animal cruelty and broke a law that requires animal carcasses to be properly removed and disposed of within 72 hours of death.

Both violations are misdemeanors.