Abstract: A method for animal management is provided in a milking system including a a milking box, a milking apparatus for milking animals, an enclosed waiting area from which the animals are capable of entering the milking box, and a gate arrangement, in which each of the animals is allowed to enter and pass the waiting area if the animal, after having been identified, fulfills a criterion. The method includes measuring a time an animal waits in the waiting area before being milked; determining a ranking for the animal based on the time, the ranking being a measure of a hierarchic order of the animal among the animals milked in the milking system; and performing an action with regard to the milking system depending on the determined ranking.

Abstract: A method for animal management is provided in a milking system comprising a milking box (13), a milking apparatus (13d) for milking animals (10), an enclosed waiting area (14) from which the animals are capable of entering the milking box, and a gate arrangement (14a), through which each of the animals is allowed to pass to enter the waiting area if the animal, after having been identified, fulfills a criterion. The method comprises the steps of measuring (21) a time an animal waits in the waiting area before being milked; determining (22) a rank number for the animal based on the time, the rank number being a measure of the hierarchic order of the animal among the animals milked in the milking system; and performing (23) an action with regard to the milking system depending on the determined rank number.

Abstract: A milking arrangement (1) for automatic milking of animals (9) is described. The milking arrangement includes a feeding area (4) arranged for supplying food to the animals (9), a resting area (2) arranged for allowing the animals (9) to rest, and a milking area (3) with at least one milking station (16, 17) for milking the animals. The milking arrangement also includes a oneway gate (12) arranged between the resting area (2) and the feeding area (4) allowing access from the resting area (2) to the feeding area (4) and at least a first access device (14) arranged between the feeding area (4) and the milking area (3) allowing access between the feeding area (4) and the milking area (3) only in the direction from the feeding area (4) to the milking area (3). A method for managing animals within a milking arrangement is also described.