Abstract: Harvest schedule is the key point of Medicago sativa production management. This study measured the response of M. sativa yield, hay quality, regrowth, and persistence to four harvest schedules of three cultivars potted in an appropriate growth environment. A high cutting frequency (20 days) reduced M. sativa productivity and persistence but stem densities and regrowth ability recovered after a prolonged cutting interval, although they did not reach the same level as those under a proper cutting schedule. There were considerable differences in M. sativa growth stage, cut resistance, regrowth, yield distribution, and feed value of the three cultivars, which resulted in differences of yield, quality and persistence under the same cut frequency. Two foreign M. sativa cultivars, ‘Vector’ and ‘Durango’, which have high fall dormancy grades, should be cut at intervals of 25-35 days for establishing stands, while M. sativa ‘Gongnong No.1’ (which was bred in the North-East of China) was best suited to a cut schedule of 35-45 days.