Leptin gene plays an important role in the regulation of feed intake, fat deposition, energy metabolism, fertility and immune functions.This study was aimed at investigating the effects of leptin gene polymorphism on carcass traits in Chinese Qinchuan cattle.Polymorphism was detected by polymerase chain reaction-single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) and DNA sequencing.A C73T polymorphism in exon 2 was found in the bovine leptin gene with carcass and meat quality traits in beef cattle.The exon2 C73T single nucleotide polymorphism (SNp) was significantly associated with live weight (LW) and logissimus muscle area (LMA).Animals with the genotype CC and CT had higher LW than the TT genotype (P<0.05); with the genotype CC and CT had lower LMA than TT genotype (P<0.05).These results suggested that C73T SNP of theleptin gene may be useful as a genetic marker for carcass and meat quality traits in Chinese Qinchuan cattle.