In the search for new, high quality, raw material sources with
consumer appeal and a solid nutritional pedigree, pulses are one
class of ingredient that the petfood industry has all but
completely overlooked. Is that because of limited availability,
poor acceptability by the pet, misperceptions about acceptable
ingredients for pets or some other intrinsic nutritional or
health issue? Direct answers may be hard to find. But given that
we are facing issues regarding the availability of quality
ingredients and a shrinking list of alternatives, maybe it is
time we explored this class of ingredients to see if they
provide options worth considering. Pulses are the dried seeds
found in pods of leguminous plants. These legume seeds include
various dry beans from the Phaseolus and Vigna genus (e.g.,
pinto beans, navy beans, kidney beans, black beans) along with
lentils, peas, chickpeas (also known as garbanzo beans), field
beans, cow peas and several minor families. Pulses do not
include seeds grown for oil production