Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the gene encoding micromolar calcium activated neutral protease (mu-calpain) effect meat tenderness in bovine. These SNPs correspond to position 18 of exon 9 of Seq. ID No. 3, position 17 of exon 14 of Seq. ID No. 4, and position 185 on intron 19 of Seq. ID No. 4, of the CAPN1 gene encoding mu-calpain. Alleles wherein the SNP at position 18 of exon 9 encodes alanine at amino acid 316 of bovine mu-calpain, the SNP at position 17 on exon 14 encodes valine at amino acid 530 of bovine mu-calpain, and the SNP at position 185 on intron 19 is an cytosine, are all indicative of increased meat tenderness. Any one or all of these SNPs may be used as markers for selecting bovines having superior meat tenderness, and selecting animals for breeding purposes.