CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein alpha (C/EBPα) is an essential transcriptional factor regulating the differentiation of adipocytes.Herein, we report a novel single nueleotide polymorphism(C271A) of the C/EBPαgene in six Chinese indigenous cattle breeds using PCR-SSCP and DNA sequencing methods.Allele frequencies were investigated and evaluated by the x2 test in 817individuals, and all populations were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.Gene heterozygosity, effective allele numbers and polymorphism information content of the C/EBPα locus varied from 0.50 to 0.54,1.84 to 1.99 and 0.35 to 0.37, respectively.We also evaluated the potential association of the C/EBPαSNP with ultrasound traits in 555 individuals; individuals of AA genotype had greater ultrasound backfat thickness than did genotype CC (0.36 cm vs 0.34 cm, P < 0.01); genotype AA and CA had higher ultrasound marbling scores than did genotype CC (3.53, 3.52 vs 3.37, P < 0.05).Analysis based on meat quality data in another 204 Qinchuan cattle showed that animals with genotype AA had bigger loin eye areas than did genotype CA (87.10 cm2 vs 79.08 cm2, P < 0.05).These results indicated that the C271A SNP of the C/EBPαgene could be used as a molecular marker for selecting beef cattle with superior carcass traits.