In cattle, aggressive animals are undesirable in almost every stage of beef production. The objective of this study was to proceed genetic analyses of the temperament, characterising the flight distance (FD) measurement in bovine Nellore, by way of the heritability estimate and expected prediction difference (EPD). Records on 8,800 animals, born from 1985 to 1998 in São Paulo State, Brazil were evaluated in a FD. The EPD were calculated using a maximum a posterior threshold model, using Method R, heritability estimated of temperament was 0.13 ± 0.00. Temperament EPD ranged from -10.44% to 18.01%, with mean 0.79% and standard deviation 3.60%. Temperament EPD may be used by Nellore breeders to genetically select for favorable temperament.