9 Dec 2011

Grapes could reduce cows' methane emissions

1:41 pm on 9 December 2011

A wine by-product which has stunned Australian scientists by reducing cattle methane emissions by 20% could have potential in New Zealand as well.

Scientists at the Victorian Government's Department of Primary Industries supplemented the diet of dairy cows with dried grape skins, seeds and stalks left over from wine making.

They then measured the cows' milk yields, milk composition and methane emissions and found they produced 20% fewer gas emissions.

Milk production increased by 5% compared with cattle fed on conventional fodder.

New Zealand's Pastoral Greenhouse Gas Research Consortium has not investigated grape marc for its methane-reducing potential but manager Mark Aspin says it's worth following up.

He says the consortium is currently investigating whether maize silage and Palm Kernal Expeller affect the gas emissions of cattle and results on that are due midway through next year.