In a previous study, the DM intake of steers fed dietary soya waste of 25–35% in a total mixed ration diet was higher than that of controls (Kim et al., 2012). However, the animals in this experiment consumed concentrate (soya waste or pelleted compound feed) and Napier grass as basal diet rather than a total mixed ration diet. Their grass intake was reduced with an increase in the dietary level of soya waste (Table 2), which indicates that grass intake could be significantly restricted using dietary soya waste up to 2.0% DM of BW. It is generally accepted that a decrease in the roughage to concentrate ratio increases the DM intake due to a reduction in the fibre of cell wall content and bulk density of the concentrate mixture (Patra et al., 2006). The findings of this study support that idea. The improved CP utilisation and N balance in Group C may be attributed to increased efficiency in the utilisation of consumed nutrients, particularly soya protein.