Abstract: Calpain3(CAPN3), as the skeletal-muscle-specific calpain gene，has association with many production traits in domestic animals. In this study，we screened CAPN3 gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 96 Yanbian Yellow cattle by PCR-SSCP，and association analysis with some meat traits were performed by SPSS programes. Two SNPs (54982 A→G and 56094 G→A) were detected by DNA sequencing. Association analysis showed that genotypes in two locis were no significantly associated with meat tenderness and cocking lost, except for BB genotype has higher pH value than AA genotype at 3 d (P＜0.05). Association analysis with meat color showed that genotypes in two locis were significantly associated with yellowness(P＜0.05)，but were no associated with other color traits. At CAPN3-1 loci，BB genotype had higher yellowness value than AA and AB genotypes，this was constant at different time，but there was no same situation at CAPN3-3 loci.

Key words: Yanbian Yellow cattle; calpain3; meat traits; yellowness; PCR-SSCP