The invention provides a milking device having at least one teat cup connectable to a teat of a dairy animal, and a method of controlling the milking device. A measuring sensor measures the amount of milk secreted. Data regarding the dairy animal are collected in a control unit. The method includes the steps of: providing a milking frequency determined in a first manner at a first lactation phase and a milking frequency determined in a second, different manner at a later, second lactation phase, for example, the stimulation phase and the stable phase, respectively, wherein the first manner results in a higher milking frequency than the second manner in the same circumstances； identifying a dairy animal and determining the associated milking frequency； milking the dairy animal dependent on the milking frequency； determining the milk production； and switching from the first to the second lactation phase, dependent on the milk production.
