DOUGLAS COUNTY, Mo. -- Two men were arrested Tuesday by Douglas County Sheriff's Office officials on suspicion running a cockfighting ring on a rural property.

The arrests will be the first to test a new Kansas law that makes cockfighting a felony.

“It covered about 2 acres of property and had all the inklings of cockfighting,” Sheriff Ken McGovern said.

Investigators said plastic barrels were used to house the roosters as they were trained to fight.

“When we showed up, they were for breeding," McGovern said. "If they're fighting them, that’s part of our investigation.”

For several months, Douglas County investigators said they've been watching the property.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office said they moved in on the property near County Road 1061 and North 700 Road, south of Eudora, Kan. There were 169 birds found on the property.

Douglas County prosecutors charged 44-year-old Ezequiel Olivas with three counts of felony cockfighting and one count of possession of cockfighting paraphernalia.

A woman on the property who said she was Olivas' wife said she did not want to comment on the charges.

The Humane Society animal fighting unit said it's one of many recent busts in Kansas.

“This should send a message to the cockfighters that Kansas is not going to be refuge for their activity,“ Humane Society representative John Goodwin said.

Another man was also arrested and could face cockfighting charges as well.