Recent increases in energy and input costs have encouraged forage producers to maximize yield and quality.  New alfalfa cultivars are being marketed as having a faster rate of regrowth, which should allow for more rapid maturity, more frequent harvests, and therefore higher yields.  The objective of this study was to determine the relationship between alfalfa regrowth rate, forage yield, and forage quality across a range of cultivars.  This study was comprised of five improved alfalfa cultivars including a high-yielding check, a hybrid cultivar, a cultivar selected for high quality, a lodging resistant cultivar, and a fall dormant, creeping rooted cultivar.  They were subjected to harvest frequencies of 25, 30, 35, and 40 days at two locations for the 2006 and 2007 growing seasons.  Plots were arranged in a split-plot design with five replications.  The main plot treatment was harvest frequency, with the five alfalfa cultivars as subplots.  Measurements taken included:  dry matter yield, quality analysis, regrowth rate, maturity at harvest, and lodging.  The quality analysis was performed using Near-Infrared Spectrometry (NIRS).  Results showed expected declines in forage quality among all cultivars as harvest frequency decreased.  However, there were significant differences in alfalfa regrowth rate between cultivars.  These results suggest that rapid alfalfa regrowth does not result in a corresponding decline in forage quality.  Cultivars with rapid regrowth rates showed decreased stand density as harvest frequency increased.  Cultivar regrowth rate and stand persistence were incorporated into a visual alfalfa growth model for extension education using  In conclusion, alfalfa cultivars with rapid regrowth rates quickly accumulate biomass without a concurrent loss in quality, but they cannot maintain stand persistence under frequent harvest intervals.