Farmina N&D Quinoa Dog Food Review (Dry)

Farmina N&D Quinoa dry product range is made up of 12 recipes with ratings varying from 4 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4 stars.

All N&D Quinoa recipes list a quality meat or fish source as the first ingredient — such as duck, venison, quail, lamb or herring. Quinoa is considered a quality grain and a good source of fiber. The recipes also include essential amino acids, vitamins and minerals like iron, calcium, and vitamin E.

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.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Farmina N&D Quinoa Weight Management Adult Lamb was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient is lamb. Lamb is considered “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered” lamb and associated with skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus. ¹

Lamb is naturally rich in all 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.

The second ingredient is dehydrated lamb. Dehydrated lamb is considered a meat concentrate and contains more than four times as much protein as fresh lamb.

The third ingredient is pea starch, a paste-like, gluten-free carbohydrate extract probably used here as a binder for making kibble. Aside from its energy content (calories), pea starch is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.

The fourth ingredient is pea fiber, a mixture of both soluble and insoluble dietary fiber derived from pea hulls. Aside from the usual benefits of fiber, this agricultural by-product provides no other nutritional value to a dog.

The fifth ingredient is quinoa seed. Quinoa (pronounced ) is not a true cereal grain but a plant prized for its gluten-free seeds.

Compared to most other grain-type ingredients, it is high in protein (about 12-18%), dietary fiber and other healthy nutrients.

The sixth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.

Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient. 

The seventh ingredient is flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.

However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.

The eighth ingredient is dried herring. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, dried herring contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself., 

The ninth ingredient is herring oil. Herring oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high-quality fats boast the highest bioavailability to dogs and humans.

Depending on its level of freshness and purity, herring oil should be considered a commendable addition.

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 the product.

This recipe has two notable exceptions.

First taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient. 

We view the presence of taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.

In addition, this food includes 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.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, Farmina N&D Quinoa Weight Management Adult Lamb looks like an above-average dry product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 30.8%, a fat level of 8.8% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 52.4%.

As a group, the brand features a protein content of 27.5% and a mean fat level of 13.2%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 51.3% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 48%.

This means Farmina N&D Quinoa dry contains near-average protein, above-average carbohydrate, and below-average fat when compared to typical dry dog food.

Farmina Dog Food Recall History

The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Farmina through September 2024.

No recalls noted.

You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.

Our Rating of Farmina N&D Quinoa Dry Dog Food

Farmina is a premium high-quality product that formulates all its dog foods with natural, non-GMO ingredients and through strict production and quality control.

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About

Francesco Russo founded the Russo Mangimi company in 1965 specializing in animal nutrition.  In 1999, the company’s focus shifted to the pet food industry with a new perspective of developing foods based on scientific studies focused on the well-being of pets.

The Mangimi company started to collaborate with Farmina, an English company specializing in food research and formulation. 

Mangima manufacturing facilities are based in Europe and Farmina foods are mostly sourced from Italy.  Some ingredients are sourced from Europe and New Zealand.

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