The aim of the study was to assess the effect of replacing cracked maize with maize meal or molasses in supplements for grazing Brown Swiss dual-purpose cows during the dry season in a subtropical region of México. Eighteen multiparous Brown Swiss cows (414 ± 13 kg of weight and 106 ± 32 d in milk), and their calves were randomly assigned to 3 supplements (6 cows per treatment). Control supplement (CS) consisted of cracked maize ears (CME), soybean meal and urea (14% of CP). Experimental supplements consisted of maize meal replacing 20% of CME (MMS), and molasses replacing 18% of CME of the CS (MOS). Cows received 5 kg/cow/day dry matter (DM) of the supplement assigned; whereas calves received 1.8 kg/calf/day DM of the CS. Experimental cows grazed on a 100 ha fenced pasture of Cynodon plechtostachyous as the predominant grass. The experiment lasted 11 weeks considering week as experimental period (EP). Animal response variables were recorded once at the end of every EP. A linear mixed model was used to analyze the data as a complete random design. A partial budget approach was used to determine profitability of the supplements. Cost and returns from supplements were calculated. Net profit (milk and beef) = (added returns + reduce cost) – (added cost + reduce returns). Milk and beef incomes were the sole variable considered for added returns. Supplements cost represented added costs. The prices used to estimated added returns and added cost were based on local market conditions. CS and MOS were statistically similar (P > 0.05) on milk yields (6.2 and 7.0 kg/cow/day, respectively). MOS yielded higher milk than MMS (5.7 kg/cow/day). There were no differences (P > 0.05) on fat, protein, lactose and milk urea nitrogen (MUN) among treatment (mean of 33.9, 30.4, 42.7 g/kg, and 7.7 mg/dL, respectively). Cows did gain weight throughout the experiment without differences among treatments (P > 0.05) (430, 406 and 430 (kg/cow), for CS, MMS and MOS, correspondingly), Body condition score was 1.5 throughout the experiment (P > 0.05). Mean calf weight gain was 0.71 kg/calf/day (P > 0.05). MOS registered 13% higher economic returns in both milk and beef production than MMS, and 10% higher than CS.