Artificial meadows of grasses (cocksfoot, Dactylis glomerata L.) and forage leguminous (sainfoin, Onobrychis viciifolia Scop.) were investigated as biomass yield, forage quality and mineral composition. During the years 1992-1995 on a typical litosoil of southern Italy (classified as Rhodoxeralf Lithic Ruptic), three harvest times and two cutting heights, arranged as a split-plot design, were compared. The variations of protein and neutrodetergent fibre (NDF) and mineral composition (N, P, K, Ca, Mg contents) were recorded during the whole trial period. Standard analysis of variance and comparison among mean values were performed. Quality and mineral composition of forages were affected by harvest times, above all in sainfoin in which the relationship leaves/stems of plants was modified to a greater extent than cocksfoot. Cutting heights showed poor effects on the parameters examined.