Mineral nutritional studies are important to establish dietary needs and avoid excesses for improved excretion and economics. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of decreasing calcium, phosphorus and trace mineral concentration in finishing performance and carcass characteristics using weaned Nellore bulls (n = 36; 273 ± 37 kg) in a RCBD-designed study. Treatments A and B contained 96.3 and 97.9% of the Ca and P requirement by supplementation of limestone and dicalcium phosphate whereas treatments C and D contained 47.8 and 66.8% of the BR-CORTE published requirement for Ca and P, respectively. Treatments A and B contained 56.8 ppm of Zn, 49.2 ppm of Mn, and 15.4 ppm of Cu and C and D contained 31.2 ppm of Zn, 42.3 ppm of Mn, and 5.8 ppm of Cu. The diets were isonitrogenous (13.3% CP). Intake was monitored every day. The cattle were slaughtered (84 and 147 d) and LM area and 12th rib fat thickness measured. Feed samples were analyzed for DM, ash, CP, Ca, P, and trace minerals (Zn, Mn and Cu). Treatment differences were declared significant by Tukey’s test at P ≤ 0.05. Calcium, P and trace mineral concentration did not affect DM and OM, CP, NDF, EE, and NFC intake (P > 0.42). Calcium and P intake were different among the treatments (P < 0.01) with supplemented bulls consuming more Ca and P in treatments A and B compared with treatments C and D. Final BW, empty BW, and ADG were similar (P > 0.16) among treatments. Carcass characteristics were not influenced (P > 0.70) by dietary treatment. These data suggest that dietary mineral concentration did not influence cattle performance. These results indicate that councils overestimate the requirements of Ca, P, and trace minerals, so supplementation is not necessary in conventional feedlot diets. Dietary reductions in these minerals would represent a significant decrease in the costs of feedlot and reduction in mineral excretion.