The aim of thiswork was to evaluate the effects of dry corn grain or high moisture corn andcalcium salts of fat acids on the performance and carcass traits of feedlotfed Nellore steers on finishing phase. Forty eight animals with 431 ±29.8kg of initial mean body weight were fed during 70 days, with one of thefour diets: MGS basal diet containing corn silage (40%), dry corn grain(48.4%), soybean meal (7.6%), urea, amonium sulphate, mineral salt, limestoneand monensin (4%); MGU basal diet with high moisture corn replacing MGS;MGS-SCAG basal diet with 45% of MGU and 4% of calcium salts of fatty acids;MGU-SCAG basal diet with 45% of MGS and 4% of calcium salts of fattyacids. The average daily gain was not affected by grain type. However, dry matterintake of animals of MGU treatment was smaller than MGS treatment, with a greaterfeed efficiency for MGU treatment. A greater number of ruminal ciliate protozoawas found in MGU treatments. Dressing percentage, renal, pelvic and inguinalfat and backfat thickness were greater in animals fed MGS diet. Average dailygain was not different between animals fed with or without SCAG, although, drymatter intake was greater in diets with SCAG, with no effect on feed efficiency.Protozoa number was smaller in diets containing SCAG and carcass traits werenot affected by SCAG.
