Abstract: A milking system for cows which includes an intermittently substantially annular platform onto which cows may walk over an outer periphery into a milking station and from which a cow may depart by a descending chute over an inner periphery of said platform. The platform is intermittently rotated in use by a novel rope drive with automatic movements occuring after a preselected period which allows at least a minimum period of time for a cow to enter onto or depart from the platform. Automatic means are provided to detect when a cow is likely to cause an obstruction to the movement of said platform. When such an obstruction is detected the automatic advancement of the platform is delayed until such time as the obstruction ceases.