A selection system for animals comprising: (a) a milking area (20) arranged to enable milking of one or more lactating animals (b) a drinking station (30) remote from the milking area (20) in which is positioned an attractant configured to attract an animal from a grazing paddock (50) (c) an entry race (70) connecting the drinking station (30) and the milking area (20) (d) a control mechanism (60) configured to permit entry of a lactating animal meeting a predefined criterion into the entry race (70) from the drinking station (30). Also a method utilising the above system and comprising: (a) attracting an animal from a grazing paddock (50) into the drinking station (30) remote from the milking area (20) (b) determining whether the animal in the drinking station (30) meets a predefined criterion (c) permitting entry of the animal meeting the predefined criterion into the entry race (70).