A system for milking a group of milking animals , in particular cows, wherein the system comprises: - an accommodation space for the milking animals , wherein the accommodation space is configured to keep a predefined number of milking animals , - a plurality of milking stations which are each arranged at a fixed position and next to each other, wherein the milking stations each comprise an entry opening for entry of a milking animal from the accommodation space to said milking station , - an automatic milking system for automatic milking of milking animals present in the milking stations , and characterized in that the number of milking stations is adapted to the predefined number of milking animals such that the system comprises at least one milking station for every 20 milking animals, preferably at least one milking station for every 15 milking animals, even more preferably at least one milking station for every 10 milking animals, and the milking system comprises milking cups and a robot device which is movable relative to the milking stations such that, in each milking station , milking cups can be connected by means of the robot device to the teats of a milking animal present in said milking station , the milking system is configured to milk a milking animal in a milking station automatically on condition that said milking animal fulfils a predefined milking criterion, and the system is configured to allow entry of milking animals to the milking stations irrespective of whether said milking animals fulfil the milking criterion, and each milking station comprises a holding device which can be operated by means of an actuator device between a holding state, in which a milking animal present in said milking station is held by the holding device , and a free state, in which a milking animal present in said milking station is free to leave said milking station , and the milking system is configured, on condition that a milking animal which visits a milking station fulfils the predefined milking criterion, to hold said milking animal by means of the holding device of said milking station before said milking animal is milked, and to release said milking animal after said milking animal has been milked in said milking station , and wherein the system comprises no expulsion means which can be activated by a control unit and are configured to give a milking animal which has been released by the milking system in a milking station after having been milked an expulsion stimulus to leave said milking station , and the milking system is configured, when a milking animal which visits a milking station does not fulfil the predefined milking criterion, to hold said milking animal by means of the holding device of said milking station for a period in said milking station and to release it after expiry of said period, and wherein the system comprises no expulsion means which can be activated by a control unit and are configured to give a milking animal which has been released by the milking system in a milking station , after expiry of said period, an expulsion stimulus to leave said milking station . - an accommodation space for the milking animals , wherein the accommodation space is configured to keep a predefined number of milking animals , - a plurality of milking stations which are each arranged at a fixed position and next to each other, wherein the milking stations each comprise an entry opening for entry of a milking animal from the accommodation space to said milking station , - an automatic milking system for automatic milking of milking animals present in the milking stations , and <EOS>