DRY Event

The DRY event records the end of a lactation when an animal is removed from milking to prepare for calving. Expand the sections below to learn more:

Use the mobile app or the web version of PULSE to enter events! Tap Events in the mobile app to get started, or see Add Events to learn more about adding events from web. PULSE supports adding events that have occurred within the last year.

The app expects you to add pregnant females to this event, so it will warn you before allowing you to add an animal that is not in PREGClosed Pregnant status, is already in DRY status, or is younger than the minimum breeding age configured in PULSE or DC305Closed DairyComp 305 - VAS Dairy Management Software for DC Unlimited dairies.

Expand the topics below to learn more about DRY event details:

If you are entering this event for an animal that is in her first lactation cycle, the Protocol field is not required. Follow the guidelines below when entering protocol details:

  1. Tap the Protocol field to view the available protocols.

    Note that the mobile app filters the list of protocols based on the event you are entering, as well as the type of animal you selected (heifer or adult). Some protocols are available only for heifers, some for adults, and some are available for both.

    For each protocol, the app displays the corresponding Milk and Meat withholdings. It also displays the remark that will be auto-filled for this animal when you choose this protocol, as well as the pen to which animals on this protocol should be moved.

  2. If you select a protocol that requires you to choose which hoof or quarter of the udder is affected, the app opens a screen where you can choose the quarter(s).

    1. Select which quarter(s) the protocol affects. Note that the options you see on this screen may vary based on DairyComp 305's configured character limit for the Remark field. The labels you see here may also be different from those listed below, but the typical ones are:

      • ALL - Selects all quarters/quadrants
      • LF - Left Front hoof or teat
      • RF - Right Front hoof or teat
      • LH - Left Hind hoof or teat
      • RH - Right Hind hoof or teat
      NOTE: The labels for quarters/quadrants can be customized in PULSE Animal Configuration settings or in DC305 for DC Unlimited dairies.

      The length of the remark field may be 16 or 8 characters, depending on your dairy type/item table configuration. MyDC dairies support 16-character remarks. DC Unlimited dairies can support 16-character remarks if they have adequate item table storage space. If a DC Unlimited dairy has limited item table storage space, it can only support 8-character remarks. Follow the guidelines below and learn how quarter/quadrant selection works for specific events:

      • MAST and LAME events:
        • 16-character REMClosed Remark or comment: Choose 1, 2, 3, or all quarters/quadrants for MAST and LAME events.
        • 8-character REM: Choose 1 or all quarters/quadrants for MAST and LAME events.
      • CULTURE events: Choose either 1 or all quarters to follow best practices for this event type, irrespective of the REM field length.

    2. After you select the quarter(s), tap the Continue button at the bottom of the screen.

After you tap Continue, the app returns you to the event screen, where you will see the following updates:

  • The event Protocol field displays your chosen protocol.
  • The Remark field is auto-populated based on the protocol you selected. You can edit the remark further after the app inserts it.
  • If the protocol you selected defined a Go To Pen number, the app automatically inserts that pen number in the event's Pen field. In this case, you cannot edit the new pen assignment for this animal because the protocol defines the required pen.
IMPORTANT: When you are adding animals in bulk to an event that allows protocols, the information in the Protocol and Remark fields will not carry forward to other animals as you add them. Because protocol treatments are specific to each animal, the app requires you to define them individually for each animal you add to the event. See Save Time when Adding Animals in Bulk for more information.

See Events with Protocols to learn more about defining protocol information when entering an event.

This field is available for events that may include a pen move. If you select a protocol for this event and that protocol designates a required pen, the app auto-fills the animal's new pen number in the Pen field; you cannot edit the new pen number at this point because it must be the pen that is defined by the protocol you selected.

The animal's height (in the units set in your PULSE User Account). To enable Height for this event, select the event from Event Definitions and expand Optional Details.

The animal's weight (in the units set in your PULSE User Account). To enable Weight for this event, select the event from Event Definitions and expand Optional Details.

Body condition score, which is used to evaluate an animal's energy balance based on being extremely thin (1.00) or having excessive fat deposits (5.00). The value can be a whole number or decimal, and you can include additional notes using the REM field for the event (up to 16 alpha-numeric characters). To enable BCS value for this event, select the event from Event Definitions and expand Optional Details.

When you add events from web or the mobile app, your updates are sent to PULSE and then on to DairyComp 305 for DairyComp Unlimited dairies (WiFi or data connection required).

When the updates are received, the following changes for each animal in the event are processed:

  • Records a DRY event and sets the EDAYClosed Event day to the date the event was completed or diagnosed.
  • Sets the DDATClosed Dry date (dry date) to the EDAY.
  • Sets the animal's reproduction code/status to 6 (DRY).
  • Updates the pen number if a pen move was included with the event.
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