Abstract: Identifying efficient animals is an alternative for reducing food costs. The objective of this study was to identify if the Residual Feed intake (RFI) is correlated with animal performance traits in Nelore cattle confined in the Intergado® system. The work was realized at Embrapa Arroz e Feijão, in 39 bulls aged between 18 and 21 months and initial weight of 455 kg. The diet was given twice daily, with the voluminous ratio: concentrate of 60:40. The descriptive statistics analysis and the Pearson correlations for the traits under study were performed using the Statistical Analysis System software (version 9.0). Note that the RFI has higher CMS and EA correlation (0.43 and -0.26), due to the CMS calculation formula. The correlation of RFI with PI, PF, GMD and CA was insignificant. The CMS had a high correlation with PI and PF, justified by the fact that the animals consume more as they gain weight, the same is true for the correlation of GMD with weight and CMS. It is concluded that the CAR has low correlation with the characteristics of weight and GMD, but the use of it as criterion of selection becomes more efficient than measures of CA and EA
