Pulse crops have been an important source of dietary nutrients for several millennia and are used throughout the world today as both human food and animal feed. Pulse grains can provide a broad array of amino acids, minerals, carbohydrates, lipids, and vitamins, many of which are essential for the animal. Various secondary metabolites that have been linked to the promotion of good health (e.g., non-nutritive phytochemicals such as isoflavones, saponins, catechins, and anthocyanidins) also are found in pulse crops. Together, these components are important for the growth and well-being of humans, and for optimized production in animals. Although these compounds are present in most pulses, the concentrations of different nutrients and phytochemicals varies across species, as well as across genotypes within a species. From the animal perspective, nutrient requirements also differ across species and/or at different stages in the life cycle. Whereas no pulse grain, when consumed in reasonable amounts, can fulfill the daily requirements of all nutrients (or suggested daily intake of phytochemicals) for a given animal, opportunities do exist to incorporate and increase the use of pulses in human/animal diets, in order to provide for significant proportions of daily requirements. Thankfully, researchers are beginning to characterize the genotypic diversity of nutrient and phytochemical composition among pulses, such that breeding strategies can be developed to enhance the levels of these important grain components. To aid this effort, more research is needed to determine the molecular, biochemical and physiological parameters that contribute to these nutritional traits. Dialogue also is needed with human and animal nutritionists, to ensure that breeders are focused on the most nutritionally relevant grain components, and are setting appropriate concentration targets. These efforts should help foster continued use of pulse crops in existing markets, and lead to expanded use in new markets.