A rotary milking platform

A rotary milking platform (1) comprises a circular platform (2) which defines a plurality of animal accommodating locations (bails) (3) for accommodating animals (4) during milking. The accommodating locations are disposed side by side circumferentially around the periphery (6) of the platform (2). A plurality of milking apparatus (indicated generally by 10), are located beneath the rotary milking platform (1) adjacent the respective animal accommodating locations (3) for presenting teat cups (16) for attaching to the teats of animals in the respective corresponding animal accommodating locations for milking of the animals. The platform 11 of each apparatus 10 comprises a support plate (12) having upwardly extending opposite end walls (9). The platform 11 defines an upwardly facing major surface (26) on which the animal stands during milking. The teat cup carrier (15) of each apparatus (10) is pivotal between a first state in which the teat cups (16) extend substantially horizontally, and in which the teat cups (16) may be held in a protected state; and a second state with the teat cups (16) in a ready state oriented substantially vertically with respective open mouths (18) of the teat cups (16) facing upwardly ready for urging by hand from the teat cup carrier (15) into engagement with the teats of the corresponding one of the animals (4).