---
title: Matings
slug: help/en-us/dairycomp/matings
docTags: 
createdAt: 2026-03-23T20:36:06.715Z
---

## 🎓In This Guide, You Will Learn: 

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Why matings are important.
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How to setup and use sire choice items.
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How to import matings into DairyComp.
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**Matings** are planned pairing of a specific sires (bull) with an individual cow, typically recommended by genetic companies using data such as production, health traits, and pedigree. The goal is to match each cow with a bull that complements her strengths and corrects her weaknesses, improving the genetic quality of the next generation

## Why Matings are Important?

Effective matings help increase milk production, improve fertility and longevity, reduce genetic defects or inbreeding, and ultimately enhance herd profitability and sustainability over time.

- DairyComp tracks each animal’s pedigree which is utilized by semen companies to create matings.
- Matings help keep the herd genetically diverse and healthy.
- Sire choices display with the BRED event entry.

:::hint{type="success"}
🗒️ **NOTE:** **VAS PULSE Platform** can be integrated with **Alta Blue Link** and the **Genex DairySuite **to assist in genetic planning. Contact your local Alta or Genex representative or click on the links below for more information. 

[Alta BlueLink Overview](docId\:pdlaxw8E3e_yH2Kr6FCZE) 

[GENEX DairySuite Overview](docId:3xPdfnjoEYuMDTLI-POSz) 
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## Sire Choice Items

Before importing a mating, confirm sire choice items are in your DairyComp as these items are needed to store the sires in DairyComp. Typically, three items are used: 

1. **SIR1**: The first sire choice.
2. **SIR2**: The second sire choice if SIR1 is not available.
3. **SIR3**: The third sire choice if SIR1 and SIR2 are not available.

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🗒️ **NOTE:** Some farms may only use SIR1 while others may use four (SIR4). SIR1, SIR2 and SIR3 are most common and used as an example in this guide.
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### How to Confirm if These Items are in DairyComp

1. Enter **ALTER\2** on the command line.
2. Use the **Find \[F9]** function key to search for SIR1, SIR2 and SIR3 individually.

Follow the next section **Add a sire choice item** if any of these items are missing.

### Add a Sire Choice Item

1. Enter **ALTER\2** on the command line.
2. Select **ADD**.
3. Enter the** item name** (SIR1, SIR2 or SIR3).
4. Enter the **item type**: select #19 Bulls.
5. Enter an **item description**.
6. Select **Yes** to save.

### Displaying Sire Choice Items

Once the sire choice items are setup and populated from a mating, make them visible to your team. Below are examples of where sire choice items are commonly added:

1. **Breeding list: **Adding sire choice items to the breeding list is highly recommended so breeders can easily see the sire choices.

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Example: LIST ID PEN LACT DIM TBRD **SIR1 SIR2 SIR3** FOR ......
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Follow this link to learn how to adjust a command: [ALTER3: Command Abbreviations](docId\:bq-RsQLRiniXrUKCZz8RV) 
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2. **Item pages: **Adding sire choice items to the Events, Items1 or Items2 pages in DairyComp can make it easy to find the sire choices for a cow in natural heat and not on a breeding list.

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Follow this link to learn how to [Customize Items in CowCards](docId\:kWuaEkHahPkHIErPfe4rx) 
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3. **Pocket CowCard** (PCC):  Add the sire choice items to Pocket CowCard so breeders can see the choices cow side. In Pocket CowCard, these items can be displayed on the Items page or in the Breeding Grid.
   - **Items page**:
     - Enter **SERVER\3** on the command line.
     - Select the **PCC Items** tab**.**
     - Under the **Items Page Items** box in the top left corner, double-click on **Available**, then select SIR1, SIR2 or SIR3 from the items menu.
     - Left click and hold on an item to drag it up or down to a preferred location.
   - **Breeding Grid**: 
     - Enter **SERVER\3** on the command line in DairyComp.
     - Select the **PCC Entry** tab.
     - Add items under **Items to display on Breeding Grid** (right center/top).
     - Double-click on **Available**, then select SIR1, SIR2 or SIR3 from the items menu.
4. **VAS PULSE Platform**: Sire choice items can be added to VAS PULSE Platform for viewing the items from the Dashboard, or from **DC on Mobile.**

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Follow this link to learn about managing item pages in VAS PULSE Platform: [Items](docId\:Py6aoCX1mNASvTZnl1RcY) 
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## Matings

Matings are files created by the semen company which contain the sire choices for each cow. These files are loaded into DairyComp using the **SIRES\M** command. 

### How to Import a Mating

1. Run the command **SAVE\F** first to create a backup.
2. Enter **SIRES\M** and the needed sire items on the command line.
3. Example command: **SIRES\M SIR1 SIR2 SIR3**
4. DairyComp will then prompt for the file location. Select the file and it will begin downloading into DairyComp. 

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⚠️** IMPORTANT: **Runing **SAVE\F** first allows Support to use a backup to restore the previous sire choices if the new mating sires look incorrect.
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💡**TIP:** Run **BREDSUM\S** to analyze conception rates by service sire.
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:::hint{type="info"}
:inlineImage[]{src="https://api.archbee.com/api/optimize/3h8pSJcGUXEi4HGCCYPTA/pxdWjxJYUxGfx3TSUUxBY-20260316-192420.png" alt caption width="70" height="70"}Follow this link to continue with the next guide: [Breeding Entry using DairyComp](docId\:dlW_u-i5WIFPq62d5KX1s) 
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