The quality of fall saved pasture and crop residues are often low. Inclusion of legumes in stockpiled forage is a good way to improve nutritive value. Evidence suggests that freezing may further increase the quality of legumes due to the release of anti-metabolites that bind proteins. The objectives of these experiments were to evaluate protein quality of various forage legume species in a fall stockpiled situation and to assess the impact of freezing on forage quality. The first study was conducted in a greenhouse setting with four clover species. Plants were established in pots in a randomized complete block design. Samples were harvested before freezing and 1,7, and 21 days following freezing. Quality analysis included crude protein (CP), residual crude protein, and undegraded intake protein (UIP). There was no significant change in CP concentration after freezing. However, residual crude protein and UIP did change over time. Initial CP ranged from 161 g kg−1 DM for berseem clover to 211 g kg−1 DM for crimson clover. Following freezing, UIP concentrations increased in both red and crimson clover. The second study was conducted in the field in 1998 and 1999. Four replications of ten forage legumes were laid out in a randomized complete block design. Subplots were harvested before freezing and 1, 7, 14, and 28 days after freezing. Quality analysis included crude protein, undegraded intake protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and true digestibility (TD). All variables showed significant differences between years, indicating that environment has a large impact on the quality of fall stockpiled forage. Crude protein concentrations ranged from 139 g kg−1 DM to 218 g kg−1 DM. Undegraded intake protein as a percent of total protein ranged from 21 to 40%. All legumes maintained high quality and good digestibility throughout the harvests following freezing. When all of the forage quality parameters studied are considered, it can be concluded that legumes can greatly improve the quality of stockpiled pasture. However, under extremely harsh fall weather conditions, forage quality may drop below values seen in this study.