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Unrated
PRODUCT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED
Brandon Farms Organics Dog Food is not rated by The Advisor because it is intended for supplementary feeding only. This means the product does not meet AAFCO standards for complete and balanced nutrition.
Currently, the Brandon Farms Organics product line includes four canned dog foods… two designed to conform to AAFCO nutrient profiles for growth and maintenance and two others intended for intermittent or supplemental feeding only.
- Brandon Farms Organics 100% Organic Turkey (supplement)
- Brandon Farms Organics 100% Organic Chicken (supplement)
- Brandon Farms Organics Chicken, Carrots and Peas
- Brandon Farms Organics Turkey, Sweet Potato and Peas
Brandon Farms Organics Dog Food Turkey, Sweet Potato and Peas was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Brandon Farms Organics Turkey, Sweet Potato and Peas
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Organic turkey, natural well water, organic sweet potato, organic peas, organic guar gum, choline chloride, vitamin supplements (E, A, riboflavin, D3, B12), niacin, d-calcium pantothenate, thiamine mononitrate, pyridoxine hydrochloride, folic acid, biotin, ferrous sulfate, zinc oxide, manganese sulfate, copper sulfate, calcium iodate, sodium selenite
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 8% | 5% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 36% | 23% | 33% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 29% | 44% | 26% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is organic turkey. Turkey is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of turkey”.1
Like most meats, turkey is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is water… which (of course) adds nothing but moisture to this food. Water is a routine finding in most canned dog foods.
The third ingredient is organic sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a good source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in fiber, beta carotene and other healthy nutrients.
The fourth item is organic peas. Peas are considered a quality source of carbohydrates. Plus (like all legumes) they’re loaded with natural fiber.
What’s more, peas contain about 25% protein… protein that must be included as a contributor to the total protein in this food.
The fifth ingredient is organic guar gum… a gelling or thickening agent found in many canned dog foods.
Also, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Non-chelated minerals are usually associated with lower quality dog foods.
Brandon Farms Organics… the Bottom Line
Because Brandon Farms Organics is completely made with quality organic ingredients, we feel compelled to accord this line favored status as we consider its ultimate rating.
That’s because organic ingredients are produced under remarkably strict government standards… standards which greatly restrict the use of any synthetic pesticides, herbicides, insecticides, hormones or antibiotics.
Just the same, we still need to evaluate the product’s protein, fat and carbohydrate content.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36%, a fat level of 23% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 33%.
As a group, all four foods in the the line present the same protein level of 36%… with an average fat reading of 23%.
Moderate protein. Average fat. And average carbohydrates (when compared to a typical canned dog food).
This is the profile of a canned dog food containing only a moderate amount of meat. Yet it would be unfair to ignore the exemplary nature of its organic components.
And one more critical point…
Neither of the two 100% chicken and turkey foods were designed to be fed as a complete and balanced diet.
These two dog foods are supplements… and supplements only.
Because they probably lack some essential nutrients, supplements must never be fed continuously as the sole item in a dog’s diet.
We prefer to use products like these as a special treat. Or as an appetizing topper… to be served over dry kibble.
The other two dog foods can be fed as complete and balanced diets for puppies or adults.
Bottom line?
Brandon Farms Organics is primarily a meat-based canned product using a commendable amount of poultry as its main source of animal protein.
It is not rated because it is intended for supplementary feeding only. This means the product does not meet AAFCO standards for complete and balanced nutrition.
Blue Seal Feeds makes both Brandon Farms and By Nature organic dog foods. Because of the remarkable similarity between the two brands, you may want to compare their retail prices.
Aside from price, we marginally favor By Nature Organics due to its inclusion of chelated minerals.
Otherwise, either brand makes an excellent choice.
Those looking for a quality dry organic product may want to check out our review of Brandon Farms Organics kibble.
In any case…
Highly recommended.
Notes and Updates
05/02/2010 Original review
12/01/2010 Product discontinued
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