Each year a handful of European agriculture students converge on Grange for a summer work placement. For us, they're a godsend - helping with the day-to-day running of our trials. For them, it's an opportunity to hone their English skills and get some exposure to research.

Synergism in motion - you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours. Although, a gravelly Meath accent may not be the best starting point for someone finding their feet as an English speaker.

The initial days are difficult. Lots of sign language and drawing of pictures.

The arrival of a student from France this year coincided with the midpoint in our grazing trials.

Meals were being introduced to grazing bulls and steers. Previous work has indicated that economic gains from early-season supplementation are small.

But, the lifecycle of the grass plant means that feeding value begins to dwindle from mid-season onwards. In order to maintain early-season liveweight gains, the troughs need to come out. Explaining the principle to our new French friend proved difficult.

Cue the humble digestive biscuit, held aloft like Yorick's skull in Hamlet.

"Late grass..."

He nodded, albeit wearing a puzzled look.

Out came the trump card - a chocolate-covered digestive, again thrust toward the heavens.

"Early grass..."

"Ah yes, yes!"

Success, he had it!

At home

The barley we were feeding was the chocolate covering that would keep growth on a par with spring levels. At home, we're applying these principles too. Last year, a newborn calf suffered a broken leg shortly after calving.

A hard-cast got her right but we didn't chance on slats for the winter, opting for a straw bed instead.

Likewise, she'll finish from grass this year, unlike her comrades who'll hit the slats for two months pre-slaughter. In all likelihood there would be no issue, but why take the risk?

She's a fabulously muscled animal. The issue will be getting her fat enough, an unusual complaint for a heifer. Her ration is 3/4 maize meal - high energy, low protein. When grazing good-quality grass, protein is rarely an issue.

Too much will do nothing for the fat score. Likewise, too many French students will do nothing for mine.