Patent ID: 8281742

Claim:
A system for milking cows comprising: a. at least one holding area having a first portion configured to hold cows waiting to be milked, a second portion disposed adjacent said first portion and an automatic gate configured as a holding pen reducer to herd cows from said first portion toward said second portion; b. a housing area disposed remotely from said at least one holding area, said housing area configured to house cows in need of medical attention; c. at least one of at least one milking robot and at least one automated milking machine disposed within said second portion of said at least one holding area for automatically milking at least one predetermined cow when such at least one predetermined cow is closely adjacent a predetermined side of said at least one of said at least one milking robot and said at least one automated milking machine; and d. an exit alley connected to and extending from said second portion of said at least one holding area so as to allow herding of the at least one predetermined cow, when milking of the at least one predetermined cow is complete, directly from said second portion toward said housing area.