The aim of this study was to determine the influence of flight speed (a proxy for cattle temperament) on dry matter intake (DMI), residual feed intake (RFI), performance and carcass composition. A total of 284 bull Nellore calves (256.9 ± 26.5 d of age) were evaluated during 2 feed efficiency tests in 2012 and 2013. Calves were housed over a period of 93 and 87 d, respectively, in 2 feedlot pens (41 m²·animal⁻¹·pen⁻¹), containing 8 feed troughs per pen equipped with a radio frequency system (GrowSafe System Ltd., Airdrie, AB, Canada) used to measure DMI (kg·d⁻¹), RFI (kg·d⁻¹) and feed conversion ratio (kg gain·kg DMI⁻¹). The diet was offered ad libitum, 3 times daily and consisted of corn silage, ground corn, soybean meal and mineral supplement. Calves were weighed every 14 d to calculate average daily gain (ADG; kg·d⁻¹) for each individual. Carcass composition was recorded using ultrasound between the 12th and 13th ribs, on the last day of the feeding period to obtain ribeye area (REA; cm²). Flight speed (FS; m·s⁻¹) was assessed every 28 d at the time of weighing. Calves were classified for temperament type according to their flight speed as follows: Calm = calves within the slowest tertile; Agitated = calves within the fastest tertile; and Intermediary = calves between the slowest and fastest tertile. Comparison of temperament type was analyzed with the PROC MIXED procedure (SAS Inst. Inc., Cary, NC). The model statement contained the effects of temperament class, feed efficiency test, and age on d 1 of the feeding period, as a covariate. No FS effect (P > 0.05) was observed on RFI and ADG; however, calves categorized as Agitated temperament had lower (P < 0.05) DMI (7.20 ± 0.09, 7.40 ± 0.09, and 7.16 ± 0.09 kg·d⁻¹) and REA (62.90 ± 0.71, 62.05 ± 0.72, and 60.69 ± 0.72 cm²) than Calm and Intermediary groups, respectively. Based on these results we conclude that Nellore cattle characterized as having agitated temperaments during handling, consumed less feed, and had worse carcass composition.