Wheat is the oldest of crops, with the earliest recorded cultivation more than 15,000 years ago. Today, over 4,000 varieties are grown around the world (Posner, 2000). 

Probiotics, or direct fed microbials, are an entire class of live microorganisms with a very complicated but intriguing story

Sorghum or milo, as it is sometimes called, originates from northeast Africa and Asia and is a close cousin to millet and (sugar) cane.

There is nothing simpler and better understood than the egg. Right? Well, egg (product) may be a common ingredient in dog and cat foods, but it’s far from “simple” and frankly may not be all that well understood.

When one contemplates the use of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), thoughts typically turn to beer making or livestock feed; not pet food. However, this grain may have a number of beneficial places in pet food diets and shouldn’t be summarily dismissed.

In the diet, fat provides a concentrated source of energy, essential fatty acids, a route for fat sol-uble vitamin absorption, aroma, and flavor. So, choosing the right fat source is important.

There has been a great deal of detailed research published regarding the fructan sugar fructooligosaccharide (FOS) in the past couple of years. FOS acts like a fiber and has beneficial effects on gut health. A special term “prebiotic” has even been coined to describe the beneficial relationship these sugars have in supplying nutrients to gut bacteria.

Lamb meal, as in “lamb meal and rice formulas,” is a distinct and specific ingredient with its own “nutritional mystique” – at least according to consumers.

Soy has become very popular in today’s human diet and health press. Newspaper and magazine articles tout the benefits of soy, and promotions for soy-enriched products seem to be everywhere, especially with the current popularity of low-carb diets.