A solution hybridization assay to measure bovine Hsp70 mRNA levels is used to demonstrate that skeletal muscle contains the highest amount of this mRNA while brain has the lowest amount and the level of Hsp70 mRNA is heat inducible in bovine skeletal muscle. Furthermore, this assay allowed for the comparison of relative Hsp70 protein and mRNA levels. Relative transcript levels compared to relative Hsp70 protein levels in tissues demonstrated 50- to 200-fold differences. These results, then, approximate the magnitude of the previously reported preferential translation of Hsp70 mRNA.