Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Redbarn Hearty Stew product range is made up of five recipes with ratings varying from 3.5 to 5 stars. The average rating of the whole range is 4 stars.
Each of these hearty stews is slow-cooked in gravy, featuring premium proteins and real ingredients like carrots, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin, which all contribute to the overall health of dogs of all ages.
Pros
- Variety of quality proteins
- No fillers or artificial preservatives
- Granted SQF food safety code for manufacturing certification
Cons
- Not as widely available as some other brands
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
Redbarn Hearty Stew Beef & Carrot Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Redbarn Hearty Stew Beef & Carrot Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Beef, beef broth, lamb broth, beef liver, carrots, lamb, fish, dried egg product, green beans, natural flavor, potato starch, pumpkin, guar gum, sunflower oil, salt, ground flaxseed, calcium carbonate, sodium phosphate, fish oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), potassium chloride, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, copper proteinate, cobalt proteinate, manganese proteinate, sodium selenite, potassium iodide), parsley, vitamins (vitamin E supplement, vitamin B1 (thiamine mononitrate), niacin supplement, vitamin B5 (d-calcium pantothenate), vitamin A supplement, riboflavin supplement, vitamin B7 (biotin), vitamin B12 supplement, vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), vitamin B9 (folic acid), vitamin D3 supplement), taurine, blueberries, cranberries, inulin, choline (choline chloride), magnesium sulfate, vitamin C (l-ascorbyl-2-polyphosphate)
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 | 44% | 25% | 23% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 35% | 48% | 18% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient 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
Beef is naturally rich in all 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The next two ingredients are beef and lamb broth. Broths are of only modest nutritional value. Yet because they add both flavor and moisture to a dog food, they are a common component in many wet products.
The fourth ingredient is beef liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fifth ingredient is carrots. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, minerals and dietary fiber.
The sixth 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.2
Lamb is naturally rich in all 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The seventh ingredient is fish. This item is typically sourced from clean, undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations.3
Without more detailed information, it’s difficult to judge the quality of this particular ingredient
In any case, fish meat is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The eighth ingredient is dried egg product, a dehydrated form of shell-free eggs. Quality can vary significantly. Lower grade egg product can even come from commercial hatcheries – from eggs that have failed to hatch.
In any case, eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The ninth ingredient is green beans, a healthy vegetable notable for its vitamin, mineral and natural fiber content.
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 five notable exceptions…
First, 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.
Next, we note the inclusion of inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
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.
Next, we note the use of 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.
Lastly, this recipe contains 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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Redbarn Hearty Stew Beef & Carrot Recipe looks like an above-average wet dog food.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 43.2%, a fat level of 25% and estimated carbohydrates of about 4%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 39.8% and a mean fat level of 22.1%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 6.2% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 56%.
Near-average protein. Near-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical wet dog food.
Redbarn Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Redbarn through March 2025.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Redbarn Hearty Stews Dog Food
Redbarn is a premium pet food brand that uses natural protein sources and does not contain any artificial chemicals or preservatives. They are committed to quality assurance and manufacturing only the most safe, nutritious and highest quality pet products.
About
Jeff Baikie and Howie Bloxam are childhood friends who co-founded Redbarn in 1996. Their love for creating products pet parents trust has grown to a family of 500 members and over 200 foods, treats and chews.
For over 25 years, Redbarn has been a family-owned business. Its headquarters are in Long Beach, California, and about 80% of Redbarn’s products are made in Great Bend, Kansas.
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