Henkin, Z., Beef Cattle Section, Newe-Ya'ar Research Center, Department of Natural Resources, Agricultural Research Organization, Ramat Yishay, Israel, Department of Agronomy and Natural Resources, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Ungar, E.D., Department of Agronomy and Natural Resources, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Dvash, L., Department of Agronomy and Natural Resources, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Perevolotsky, A., Department of Agronomy and Natural Resources, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel
Yehuda, Y., MIGAL - Galilee Technological Center, Kiryat Shemona, Israel
Sternberg, M., Wise Faculty of Life Sciences, Department of Molecular Biology and Ecology of Plants, Tel Aviv University, Israel
Voet, H., Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Economics and Management, Hebrew University, Rehovot, Israel
Landau, S.Y., Department of Agronomy and Natural Resources, Agricultural Research Organization, The Volcani Center, Bet Dagan, Israel

The main objective of this study was to determine to what extent grazing pressure and timing modulate the seasonal progression of herbage quality in hilly Mediterranean grassland systems. The study was conducted during six consecutive years between 2003 and 2008 at the Karei Deshe experimental farm, in eastern Galilee, Israel, dominated by rich hemicryptophytic grassland. Treatments included two different grazing intensities, heavy and moderate, with 1·1 and 0·55 cows ha -1, respectively, and management that included a continuous and a seasonal stocking system that was divided at both intensities into early and late grazing. Herbage samples were analysed for digestibility, crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre contents. Significant differences in herbage quality were found between seasons and years. Herbage quality was significantly higher in paddocks grazed continuously or early in the season. Herbage quality increased with increasing grazing intensity as younger herbage and continued re-growth were maintained during the green season. The greater difference between herbage qualities was found at the peak of the growing season. The significant differences found in herbage quality emphasize the importance of the decision-making process aimed at improving cattle grazing management in Mediterranean rangelands and its consequences for the sustainability of the system. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.