The effects of nutritional plans (NP) in the growing phase on the performance of Nellore cattle during the finishing phase were evaluated. Our hypothesis was that the NP in the growing phase affect the body weight gain rate (BWGR) in the finishing phase, and that there is an interaction between the NP. The evaluated NP were characterized by the combination of different types of supplementation in the dry season (post-weaning - phase I) e wet season (phase II) (both growing phase) and finishing stage (dry season - phase III). In phase I, the animals received protein supplementation (PS; 0.1% BW) or protein-energy supplementation (PES; 0.5% BW); in phase II, mineral salt (MS; ad libitum), or PES (0.5% BW); and in phase III, the animals under the different NP in the growing phase (PS/MS; PS/PES; PES/MS and PES/PES) received 1.5 or 2.0% BW of supplement. Animals were maintained on a Marandu-grass pasture at all phases. Animals were weighed after 16 h of solid-feed deprivation. The BWGR was calculated as (ADG ÷ average BW of the animal - in each phase) × 100. The experimental design was completely randomized, with a 2 (supplements in phase I) × 2 (supplements in phase II) × 2 (supplements in phase III) factorial arrangement; n = 5 (animals as replicate). The t-test was applied at 10% probability. No interaction was detected (P > 0.10) between phases I, II, and III. In addition, the NP supplied in phase I did not influence (P > 0.10) ADG, BWGR, or the final BW in phase III. The ADG during phase III was influenced only by the nutritional history of phase II. In phase III, the animals fed MS (1.02 kg) during phase II had a greater (P = 0.02) ADG than those fed PES (0.92 kg). Likewise, the animals fed MS had a higher BWGR in phase III than those fed PES (0.27 vs. 0.21 kg/100 kg BW, respectively). In phase II, the animals fed PES gained 60.3 kg more than those which received MS. At the end of phase III, this difference became 47.2 kg, i.e., 78% of the gain obtained in phase II was maintained. The nutritional plan utilized during the growing phase, before finishing (wet season), alters the gain rate in the finishing. Trouw Nutrition/Bellman provided financial support, and FAPESP provided the fellowship grant.