Pre-Install Phase
During the Pre-Install phase, your install technician is converting your dairy's data — which means this is the perfect time to start learning the basics of DairyComp on your own.
This phase has two parts:
- Work with your install technician to complete the site survey if not already completed. The site survey is use to build a cowfile tailored to your farm.
- Familiarize yourself with the fundamentals of DairyComp so you have a solid foundation before Go-Live Day.
🗒️ NOTE: The DairyComp fundamental topics included in the Pre-Install Phase are appropriate for any new user, even if the farm is a long-time user of DairyComp.
DairyComp Demo Herd
Your install technician will install DairyComp with a demo herd prior to your Go-Live Day. The demo herd can be used during the Pre-Install Phase to practice navigating DairyComp.
Fundamental Topics
Before your Go-Live Day, focus on these three fundamental topics:
- Top 10 key terms. These are generic terms commonly used when speaking about DairyComp.
- Six key topics. These are the six key topics requested by our install team that new users should familiarize themselves with during the Pre-Install Phase. Navigating these topics will also help you become more familiar with the Help-Docs.
- Help sources. While it is important to work with your install technician during this phase, it's also very important to know the available sources for help.
Top 10 Terms to Know
Term | Definition |
|---|---|
CowCard | The CowCard is an animal’s record in DairyComp, capturing key details such as birth date, sire, breeding status, health, and production. It serves as the foundation for all reports and can be customized to display and organize information as needed. Click here to learn more: CowCards |
CowFile | The main database that stores your current herd data. |
Item | Items are data points about an animal and classified as either stored or calculated. Stored items such as cattle breed, pen number, lactation number, etc. are fixed. Calculated items are derived from other items or Events. For example, days-in-milk (DIM) is calculated from the FRESH event date. Click here to learn more: Introduction to ITEMS |
Events | Events are specific, chronological actions or occurrences related to an animal within DC305. They are the building blocks of an animal's history, from freshening and breeding to health treatments and sales. Events are stored in the order of their occurrence and drive all herd-level reports and analysis. Click here to learn more about Events: Events |
Command | A command is simply a set of instructions that tells DairyComp what to do. It can be a single word called a Command Verb, or a detailed string of customized instructions. Commands let you create work lists, generate reports, load milk weights, enroll cows into sync or vaccine programs, and much more. |
Command Line | The Command Line is the white bar near the top of the DairyComp home screen, just below the main toolbar. From here, you can enter a cow ID to open her CowCard, record data, or write commands on the fly. It’s one of the most powerful tools in DairyComp for quick access to almost anything you need. Click here to learn more: Command Line |
DC Server | This is the main DairyComp operating computer, where you can create new Commands, Items, Events, and other configurations that cannot be created on a DairyComp Client or DairyComp Shadow (read-only version). |
DC Client | A DairyComp version that connects to the DairyComp Server and allows data entry and data viewing, but does not permit creating new Commands, Items, Events, or other system configurations. |
Switches | Switches are letters, numbers and symbols added to the end of a command to define special tasks, create short cuts and help with reporting. Click here for more information on Command switches: Tips for Using the Command Line |
Refresh | The process of exchanging, or updating data, between the DairyComp Server, DairyComp Client, DairyComp Shadow, Pocket CowCard (PCC) and/or VAS PULSE Platform. |
⚠️ IMPORTANT: The DairyComp Server must remain running, as scheduled tasks will not execute when DairyComp is closed. If it is turned off, cow enrollments, data imports (milk weights/activity), and client updates may not execute correctly.
Six Key Topics
The Help-Docs contain two very helpful DairyComp resources, Getting Started with DairyComp and the DairyComp Reference Guide. The links below will guide you to six key topics.
- Main Display Area (Getting Started with DairyComp): This guide will teach you the six primary components of the DairyComp "home page".
- CowCards (DairyComp Reference Guide): This guide will teach you how to view the CowCards, actions available, tips, editing and printing CowCards.
- Items Tabs (DairyComp Reference Guide): This guide will teach you the difference between Stored and Calculated items and how to customize what items are displayed under each CowCard tab.
- Events (DairyComp Reference Guide): This guide will teach you not only what an event is, but how to view, manage and enter events.
- Changing the Date in DairyComp (Getting Started with DairyComp): This guide will teach you how to set the date forward and backwards, along with how to recognize when the DairyComp date is not set to today's date.
- Held Scheduled Tasks (DairyComp Reference Guide): This guide will teach you how to identify when scheduled tasks are held, why this important and how to resolve them.
Help Sources
🗒️ NOTE: During the Pre-install and Active Onboarding phases, we recommend reaching out to your install technician for assistance, as they possess a comprehensive understanding of your current cowfile.
Online Help-Docs access points
- Direct online access: https://help.vas.com/help
- Access from DairyComp:
- Under the Help tab, select "DC305 Online Help"
- Click anywhere you see a
- Access from VAS PULSE Platform:
- Click on the question mark located in the top right corner next to the username.
- Click anywhere you see "Need help with...."
U.S. Customers
Need more help? Use one of the methods below to contact VAS Support! | |
|---|---|
Live Chat | Chat directly with a product support team member directly in PULSE. At the bottom right corner of any PULSE page, click the Chat button |
Text Message | Text 559-686-9496. Standard text messaging rates apply. |
Phone | Call 559-686-9496 or the toll-free phone number 888-225-6753. |
Email [email protected]. | |
Web | For the most up-to-date VAS Support contact information, visit the VAS Support page. |
