The invention relates to a method and a device for milking an animal, which includes at least a pair of teatcups (2). A pulsator (12) is arranged, via a pulsation chamber (4) of each teatcup (2), to subject its liners (3) for a cyclically pulsating pressure from the outside, which pressure has a cycle with a time period T. The cycle includes a first opening phase (a), a second open phase (b), a third closing phase (c) and a fourth closed phase (d). When both the time periods of the second open phase (b) and the fourth closed phase (d) are less than the half time period for the total cycle, T the cyclically pulsating pressures of the respective pulsation chambers are controlled by a control (15) in such a way that a flow of milk between the two teatcups of the respective pair is prevented.
A device for milking animals is provided with at least two milking robots, each for automatically connecting at least one teat cup to a teat of an animal. Each milking robot is provided with a milking vacuum unit for generating a milking vacuum for milking an animal. The device is provided wit a common ring line and wit a controllable, central vacuum system for generating a vacuum with a first pressure on the common ring line. Each milking vacuum unit is connected to the ring line via a passage, a control device being provided for controlling the size of the passage.
An apparatus for milking livestock, which apparatus has a milking box; a milking robot disposed close to or in the milking box; and a holder for receiving therein teat cups which during use are arranged on an animal for milking by the milking robot, and a holder for such an apparatus. The holder has a guard, a carriage with an engaging mechanism for engaging the teat cups and with a displacer for displacing the carriage between a first position, in which at least the teat cups are protected by the guard in the situation engaged by the carriage, and a second position, in which the teat cups are released for removal by the milking robot.
