The objective of this study was to evaluate the physical and chemical composition of the 9th to 11th rib section with other rib sections in Nellore cattle. Fourteen Nellore bulls (average age = 13 mo and carcass weight = 259 kg) were used. The six ribs sections were: 9th to 11th rib section (HH); prime rib section (PR; 6th to 12th rib section); tip of the ribs corresponding to HH (THH); tip of the ribs corresponding to the PR (TPR); HH plus THH (HH+THH) and PR plus TPR (PR+TPR). Each section was separated into meat + fat and bones. Water, ash, crude protein (CP) and ether extract (EE) contents were determined in all rib sections. The physical and chemical composition of all rib sections were compared with the HH composition by using the Dunnett's test. All sections, except the THH and TPR, presented the physical composition similar to the HH. However, ash and EE contents in PR and the water, ash and CP contents in HH+THH were similar to the HH composition. In conclusion, PR, HH+THH and PR+TPR physical compositions were similar to HH. However, none of the sections evaluated in the current study presented similar chemical composition to the HH.