The aim was to protect the Henan Yellow River carp germplasm resources and provide a scientific basis for the meat quality improvement of Yellow River carps. With artificially farmed and wild Henan Yellow River carps as the research objects, comparative study on muscle fiber diameter and density, routine nutritional composition, calcium and phosphorus contents and amino acids composition was conducted between the two groups of carps. The results showed that the moisture content was significantly higher (P 〈0.05), the crude fat and crude protein contents were significantly lower (P〈0.05), the essential amino acids and total amino acids contents were lower (P〉0.05), the phosphorus content was higher (P 〉0.05), and the calcium content was lower (P〉0.05) in the wild group compared with those in the farming group. The analysis of muscle fiber characteristics showed that there were significant differences in the average muscle fiber diameter (P〈0.05) and muscle fiber density (P〈0.01) between the two groups of Henan Yellow River carps.