Post-transcriptional gene regulation guided by microRNAs has emerged as one of the major gene regulatory mechanisms in higher eukaryotes. microRNAs regulate gene translation through the recognition of complementary sequences between microRNAs and their target genes. Recent studies in livestock have revealed that many microRNAs are species- and tissue-specic, indicating that microRNAs play important roles in essential physiological processes in livestock, such as metabolism, and muscle and organ development. It is anticipated that many microRNAs will be linked to phenotypic differences or quantitative trait variations of livestock. The role of microRNA in developmental decisions that affect animal biology is of significant interest, yet the current literature on livestock models is limited. In this review, we summarize the current microRNA studies undertaken in livestock.
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