In the two-year period 1993-1994, the effects of three harvest times (when plant height reached 10, 15 and 20 cm) and two cutting heights (close to the ground and at 5 cm) were studied on the main quantitative and qualitative yield parameters of two perennial meadows forage crops, grown as dry crops, the sainfoin (Onobrychis viciaefolia Scop.) and cocksfoot (Dactylis glomerata L.). In both the species, despite the poor results achieved by cocksfoot in the second trial year, the cutting carried at a height of 15 cm gave the highest green forage and dry matter yields, and good crude protein and neutrodetergent fibre (NDF) contents. Between the cutting heights, the best results were obtained in the close to the ground cutting.