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Our Verdict
Bil-Jac dry product range is made up of 11 recipes with ratings varying from 2 to 3 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 3 stars.
The table below shows each recipe in this range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Bil-Jac Adult Select | 3 | A |
| Bil-Jac Puppy Select | 3 | G |
| Bil-Jac Senior Select | 3 | M |
| Bil-Jac Small Breed Adult | 3 | M |
| Bil-Jac Large Breed Adult | 3 | M |
| Bil-Jac Sensitive Solutions Skin and Stomach | 3 | A |
| Bil-Jac Small Breed Puppy | 3 | G |
| Bil-Jac Small Breed Senior | 3 | M |
| Bil-Jac Large Breed Puppy | 3 | G |
| Bil-Jac Reduced Fat | 2 | M |
| Bil-Jac Sensitive Solutions Digestive and Immune Support | 3 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Bil-Jac Adult Select was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Bil-Jac Adult Select
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken by-products (organs only, source of arginine), corn meal, chicken by-product meal, dried beet pulp, oatmeal, menhaden fish meal, brewers dried yeast, salt, choline chloride, dl-methionine, sodium propionate (a preservative), l-lysine, monocalcium phosphate, vitamin E supplement, calcium carbonate, l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate (source of vitamin C), zinc proteinate, zinc oxide, copper proteinate, dried lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, dried lactobacillus casei fermentation product, dried bifidobacterium animalis fermentation product, vitamin A acetate, copper sulfate, inositol, niacin supplement, biotin, sodium selenite, d-calcium pantothenate, manganese proteinate, riboflavin supplement, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin B12 supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride (vitamin B6), manganous oxide, cobalt carbonate, mixed tocopherols, bha (preservatives), vitamin D3 supplement, potassium iodide, folic acid, rosemary extract, green tea extract, spearmint extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 4%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 27% | 18% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 30% | 20% | 42% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 25% | 40% | 35% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is chicken. Although it is a quality item, raw chicken contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat content to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The second ingredient includes chicken by-products, what’s left of a slaughtered chicken after all the choice cuts have been removed.
In addition to organs, this item can also include feet, beaks, undeveloped eggs and almost anything other than prime skeletal muscle.
What’s more, raw meat contains up to 73% water. After cooking, most of that moisture is lost, reducing the meat to just a fraction of its original weight.
After processing, this item would probably account for a smaller part of the total content of the finished product.
The quality of this ingredient can vary, depending on the caliber of the raw materials obtained by the manufacturer.
However, according to Bil-Jac’s website, the company uses only organ meats.
The third ingredient is cornmeal, a coarsely ground flour made from dried corn. Corn is an inexpensive and controversial cereal grain of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
For this reason, we do not consider corn a preferred component in any dog food.
The fourth ingredient is chicken by-product meal, a dry rendered product of slaughterhouse waste. It’s made from what’s left of a slaughtered chicken after all the choice cuts have been removed.
In addition to organs, this item can also include feet, beaks, undeveloped eggs and almost anything other than prime skeletal muscle.
On the brighter side, by-product meals are meat concentrates and contain nearly 300% more protein than fresh chicken.
The quality of this ingredient can vary, depending on the caliber of the raw materials obtained by the manufacturer.
The fifth ingredient is beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most dog foods is entirely acceptable.
The sixth ingredient is oatmeal, a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, dietary fiber and can be (depending upon its level of purity) gluten-free.
The seventh ingredient is menhaden fish meal, another protein-rich meat concentrate.
Menhaden are small ocean fish related to herring. They’re rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids. What’s more, in their mid-depth habitat, menhaden are not exposed to mercury contamination as can be typical with deep water species.
This item is typically obtained from the “clean, dried, ground tissue of undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings” of commercial fish operations.1
The eighth ingredient is brewers yeast, which can be a controversial item. Although it’s a by-product of the beer making process, this ingredient is rich in minerals and other healthy nutrients.
Fans believe yeast repels fleas and supports the immune system.
Critics argue yeast ingredients can be linked to allergies. This may be true, but (like all allergies) only if your particular dog is allergic to the yeast itself.
In addition, a vocal minority insists yeast can increase the risk of developing the life-threatening condition known as bloat. However, this is a claim we’ve not been able to scientifically verify.
In any case, unless your dog is specifically allergic to it, yeast can still be considered a nutritious additive.
What’s more noteworthy here is that brewers yeast contains about 48% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to affect the overall rating of this product.
With four notable exceptions…
First, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing to help with digestion.
Next, this food contains chelated minerals, minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
In addition, this recipe includes sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
And lastly, this product is preserved with BHA, a suspected cancer-causing agent.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Bil-Jac Dog Food looks like an average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 30%, a fat level of 20% and estimated carbohydrates of about 42%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 27% and a mean fat level of 17%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 48% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 64%.
Above-average protein. Near-average fat. And near-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the brewers dried yeast and flaxseed, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a notable amount of meat.
Bil-Jac Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Bil-Jac through November 2024.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Bil-Jac Grain Inclusive Dog Food
Bil-Jac is a grain-inclusive dry dog food using a notable amount of named meat and named by-product meals as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 3 stars.
However, it’s unfortunate the company chose to include BHA in its recipe. Without this controversial ingredient, we may have been compelled to award this line a higher rating.
BHA phobics may wish to ignore our rating and look elsewhere for another product.
Compare Bil-Jac Dog Food
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A Final Word
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