The use of fiber-rich by-products, as corn germ meal, could prevent metabolic disorders in feedlot cattle fed high-concentrate diets, avoiding losses in performance. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate high-concentrate diets with corn germ meal totally replacing corn grain on performance, carcass traits, and meat sensory characteristics of feedlot Nellore heifers. Twenty-eight heifers (200 ± 22.5 kg BW) were randomly assigned to 4 treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: 2 concentrate levels (70 and 80%), and 2 energy sources (corn grain and corn germ meal). Corn silage was used as roughage, and concentrate was composed of soybean hulls, sunflower meal, mineral premix and corn or corn germ meal. Animals were gradually adapted to the finishing isoenergetic and isonitrogenous diets over a 6-wk period. Weights of feed delivered and refused were recorded daily and composited samples were analyzed for DM, CP and aNDF contents. At the end of 112-d feedlot period, heifers were transported for 100 km to a commercial abbatoir. There was no interaction (P > 0.05) of concentrate levels and energy sources for DM intake, which was not affected by treatments. The concentrate level of 80% and corn, allowed the greatest CP (1.17 kg/day) and aNDF (4.05 kg/day) intakes. Final BW (P < 0.05) and ADG (P < 0.01) were decreased when corn germ meal was used. Dressing percentage, HCW, LMA, as well as BF were unaffected by treatments. Carcass muscle and fat were greater for animals fed 80% concentrate diets (P < 0.05). Preference and texture of Longissimus muscle were greater when animals were fed 80% concentrate diets with corn germ (P < 0.05). In conclusion, high proportions of concentrate containing corn as energy source seems to provide best performance, but the total replacement of corn with corn germ meal in high-concentrate diets promote better sensory characteristics of meat from finishing Nellore heifers.