Drink more wine to help save the planet and New Zealand's economy.
That cheerful conclusion can be drawn from research in Victoria showing that cows fed wine dregs emit less methane - a potent greenhouse gas blamed for global warming.
Grazing livestock's "burps" produce about 90 percent of the methane that makes up over 40 percent of New Zealand's greenhouse gas emissions.
There have been calls to reduce New Zealand's dairy herd so international emissions obligations can be met.
New Zealand has stepped up research to find ways of cutting emissions without damaging the country's biggest export industry.
Now researchers from Victoria's Department of Primary Industries have found dairy cows fed the stems, seeds and skins left over from making red wine - material known as grape marc - emitted 20 percent less methane.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports that the research also found that the cows' milk production increased by 5 percent, while the healthy fatty acids and antioxidants in their milk also rose.
Scientist Peter Moate says the grape marc smells "like a glass of stale red wine the next day", but when mixed with crushed wheat and hay it proved appetising to the animals.
Dr Moate believes the study is the first of its kind in the world to measure the methane emissions from cows fed grape marc, as well as the feed supplement's impact on milk.
NZN