DogFoodAdvisor is reader supported See how
All reviews are 100% impartial but if you buy using links on this page, we may earn a referral fee.
Unrated
PRODUCT HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED
Brandon Farms Naturals canned formula receives the Advisor’s top rating of five stars.
Currently, the Brandon Farms Naturals product line includes four canned dog foods… all designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for growth and maintenance.
- Brandon Farms Naturals 95% Beef
- Brandon Farms Naturals 95% Chicken
- Brandon Farms Naturals 95% Turkey and Bacon
- Brandon Farms Naturals 95% Beef, Chicken and Liver
Brandon Farms Naturals 95% Beef was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Brandon Farms Naturals 95% Beef Dinner
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Beef, beef broth, beef liver, tricalcium phosphate, guar gum, cassia gum, carrageenan, minerals (iron amino acid chelate, zinc amino acid chelate, cobalt amino acid chelate, copper amino acid chelate, manganese amino acid chelate, sodium selenite, potassium iodide), potassium chloride, inulin, vitamins (vitamin E, A, B12, D3 supplements, thiamine mononitrate, biotin, riboflavin supplement), choline chloride, flaxseed oil, salt, taurine
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 1.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 10% | 8% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 46% | 36% | 10% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 32% | 61% | 7% |
The first ingredient in this dog food is beef. Beef is defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus.1
Like most meats, beef is naturally rich in all ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient includes beef broth. Broths are nutritionally worthless. But because they add moisture to a dog food they are a common finding in many canned products.
The third ingredient is beef liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal. So long as it’s not over-weighted in a dog food, beef liver is a beneficial component.
The fourth item is tricalcium phosphate… a beneficial source of calcium and phosphorous. Plus (in canned products) this additive also acts as an emulsifier… an agent designed to disperse a food’s fats more uniformly in water.
The next three items are all thickening agents…
- Guar gum
- Cassia gum
- Carrageenan
We note this dog 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.
Brandon Farms Naturals… the Bottom Line
The ingredients used here to make this Brandon Farms Naturals canned product are minimal in number… but all of notable quality.
Yet quality alone cannot tell us how much meat might be present. For that, we must consult the label’s nutrient percentages.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 46%, a fat level of 36% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 10%.
All four products in the canned line reveal the same high protein level of 46%… with fat registering an above-average 36% for the group.
High protein. High fat. And low carbohydrates (when compared to a typical canned product).
This is the profile of a canned dog food containing an abundance of meat.
Bottom line?
Brandon Farms Naturals is a meat-based canned dog food using a generous amount of beef or poultry as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand a well-deserved five stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Notes and Updates
05/03/2010 Original review
12/01/2010 Product Discontinued
Compare This Dog Food
How does this brand compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?
A Final Word
The Dog Food Advisor does not accept money, gifts, samples or other incentives in exchange for special consideration in preparing our reviews.
However, we do receive a referral fee from online retailers (like Chewy or Amazon) and from sellers of perishable pet food when readers click over to their websites from ours. This helps cover the cost of operation of our free blog. Thanks for your support.
For more information, please visit our Disclaimer and Disclosure page.
