"Crude protein over 24% is very difficult to achieve unless you're cutting that alfalfa a week or more before you see the very first bud.

At that level of maturity, you're going to take a huge yield hit."

Exactly!

"If the guy wants a CP > 24... he'd better be paying up for it, because consistently cutting your stands that early will result in a stand that lasts only four, maybe five years."

Around here,  4-5 years is a good stand.  I think "here" if you try to manage in that scenerio, you will end up with stands that last 3 years - here!