An improved milking station is disclosed including an improved sensor for indicating premature teat cup disengagement, an improved shut-off valve mechanism, and a teat cup retraction assembly. In the outflow line of milk from the teat cup assembly, a plug with a magnet therein is gravitationally biased between the limit of travel bars. Assuming normal milk exhaustion from a cow's udder, the magnet falls to a lower position for a predetermined period of time (in the order of 4-6 seconds) and actuates the shut-off valve and retracts the teat cup assembly. When premature disengagement of the teat cup assembly occurs (as by the cow kicking the assembly loose), and the teat cup becomes disengaged, vacuum pulls the plug with the magnet in the outflow conduit to the full-up position. In the full-up position, retraction occurs with a blinking light indicating that disengagement has occurred without necessarily fully draining the cow's bag. Milk shut-off occurs between the teat cup assembly and vacuum manifold by a rubber hose flattened against a T-shaped anvil inserted within the hose. The anvil is positioned with the hose surrounding it between compression members. By squeezing the hose sides downwardly onto the anvil, complete sealing occurs without straining the hose size beyond the elastic limit. Teat cup retraction is actuated at the end of an air cylinder having a gathering point initially over the side of the cow. When retraction is called for, the teat cup assembly is retracted from the cow and lifted immediately upward and forward of the animal. Only after upward and forward motion has commenced, is the teat cup assembly pulled inward into the center of the milking station. Swatting of the animal with the teat cup assembly either in the milk stall or in the adjacent stall is avoided.