Milking system

A milking system including apparatus and a method for facilitating the milking of a large number of animals in a milking parlor. Milking stalls in the parlor are arranged to provide a one way-path of travel through the parlor with a controlled entry and exit to facilitate pre- and post-milking treatment of the animals. The milking stalls are separated by an operator's pit. A platform or person mover disposed in the pit carries an operator from one milking stall to another wherein the proximity of a working side of the platform to the stalls allows the operator to have direct access to an animal without leaving the platform. Movement of the platform to a given stall is controlled by a controller acting responsive to sensors that indicate the occurrence of an event at the given stall requiring the operator's attention.