Molecular genetic markers can be used to identify chromosomal regions thatcontain quantitative trait loci (QTL) that control meat quality and musclecomposition traits in farm animals. To study this in pigs, a resource family wasgenerated from a cross between two Berkshire grand sires and nine Yorkshiregrand dams. A total of 525 F2 progeny from 65 matings of F1 parents wereproduced. Phenotypic data on 28 meat quality traits (drip loss, water holdingcapacity, firmness, color, marbling, percentage cholesterol, ultimate pH, fibertype, and several sensory panel and cooking traits) were collected on the F2animals. Animals were genotyped for 125 microsatellite markers covering theentire genome. Least squares regression interval mapping was used for QTLdetection. Significance thresholds were determined by permutation tests. A totalof 60 QTL were detected at the 5% chromosome level for meat quality traits, onChrs 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 18, and X, of which 9 and1 QTL were significant at the 5% and 1% genome-wise levels (on Chrs 1, 5, 12,15, and 17), respectively.