The effects of supplementation strategies on the performance of Nellore cattle finished on Marandu-grass pastures (wet season) were evaluated. It was expected that with the increased energy density at the final stage of finishing there would be improvement in animal performance. The experimental period (EP) was from 12/2013 to 05/2014 (five 28-d periods). Seventy-two uncastrated cattle with an average initial BW of 409.3 ± 17.8 kg were used in the experiment. The following nutritional plans were adopted: mineral supplement (MS; ad libitum), 140 d of the EP; energy supplement (ES; 0.7% of the BW), 140 d of the EP; MS/high supplementation on pasture (MHS; MS on the first 70 d of the EP and supplementation at 2% BW in the last 70 d of the EP). At the end of each period, the animals were weighed (after 16 h of feed deprivation) to determine the average daily gain (ADG). To calculate the carcass gain and carcass gain percent (carcass gain/weight gain), 6 animals were slaughtered at the beginning of the EP (control slaughter). The experimental design was of randomized blocks, analyzed as a repeated measure over time, in which the experimental unit was the paddock (6 animals/paddock). There was interaction between periods and nutritional plans on ADG (P < 0.01). In the first 2 periods, animals fed ES showed a 27% higher ADG (P < 0.01) than the others. In the last 2 periods, however, MHS (1.83 kg/day) provided a greater (P < 0.01) ADG as compared with ES (1.27 kg/day) and MS (0.92 kg/day). Carcass gain in the animals fed MHS was 56% and 16% higher (P < 0.01) than in those receiving MS and ES, respectively. Nutritional plan MHS increased (P < 0.01) the carcass gain percent by 5% and 20% as compared with the animals fed MS and ES, respectively. Dressing percent and final carcass weight were higher (P < 0.01) in the cattle that received MHS (58.7%; 355.2 kg), followed by those that received ES (56.8%; 333.0 kg) and then MS (52.8%; 281.9 kg). A greater uptake of nutrients, through increased supplementation during the final stage of finishing, improves the animal performance by increasing carcass gain percent, weight, and dressing percent. Acknowledgments: Trouw Nutrition/Bellman.