Insecticide poisoning is being blamed in the deaths of 18 head of cattle near Royal in northeast Nebraska.

Veterinarian Randall Pedersen says the death and dying animals, including three calves, were discovered a week ago. He says an insecticide of some type apparently led to the deaths.

A Kansas State University lab confirmed the cause of the deaths, but more tests are being done to determine the specific type of insecticide.

Pedersen says it had been determined that no insecticides had been sprayed on the field for two years.

Antelope County Attorney Mike Long says authorities are trying to determine if the death were accidents or intentional.

The cattle were owned by Fred Schultz, who had leased the stubble field for grazing from Antelope County Supervisor Jerald Schwager.