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Sniff
Open Farm

New Zealand Venison & Ancient Grains Dog Kibble

Evidence Good
dry all life stages $7.50/lb Data verified from brand site

Open Farm New Zealand Venison & Ancient Grains Dog Kibble earns a Sniff Score of 68/100 (B) with Good evidence. Zero controversial ingredients flagged. Reasonable protein quality. venison delivers solid amino acid coverage..

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Reasonable protein quality. venison delivers solid amino acid coverage.

PQI

Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.

CQI

Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).

FQI
Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 29% ⓘ
Protein
26%
min (as fed)
Fat
15%
min (as fed)
Fiber
4.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

41 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    venison

    Real meat, lean and gamey. Used as a novel protein for dogs with sensitivities.

  2. 2
    oats

    Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.

  3. 3
    ocean menhaden fish meal
  4. 4
    barley

    Whole grain with a low glycemic profile and some soluble fiber. Easy on blood sugar.

  5. 5
    sorghum

    Whole grain with a low glycemic index. Gluten-free, well-tolerated, decent fiber content.

  6. 6
    millet

    Gluten-free whole grain. Fine for most dogs, often used as an alternative to rice.

  7. 7
    whitefish meal

    Whitefish cooked into a dry concentrate. Strong protein source, common in premium formulas.

  8. 8
    coconut oil

    Saturated fat with medium-chain triglycerides. Mostly marketing in the doses kibble uses, but harmless.

  9. 9
    pumpkin

    Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.

  10. 10
    natural flavor

    Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.

  11. 11
    carrots

    Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.

  12. 12
    flaxseed

    Plant source of omega-3. Helpful for skin and coat, though dogs absorb omega-3 from fish more efficiently.

  13. 13
    apples

    Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.

  14. 14
    salmon oil

    Pure omega-3s. The thing skin-and-coat formulas are usually built around.

  15. 15
    sunflower oil

    Common plant oil. Useful in moderation for omega-6, though too much skews the omega ratio against the dog's favor.

  16. 16
    cranberries

    Often added with a urinary-tract-support marketing angle. Real cranberry compounds help in concentrate form, but kibble doses are small.

  17. 17
    calcium carbonate

    Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.

  18. 18
    potassium chloride

    Required mineral. Sometimes used as a salt substitute. Standard inclusion in complete diets.

  19. 19
    zinc proteinate

    Zinc bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form of the mineral, versus zinc oxide which sits cheaper on the label.

  20. 20
    iron proteinate

    Iron bound to protein for better absorption. The premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.

  21. 21
    copper proteinate

    Copper bound to protein for better absorption. Common in better-formulated diets.

  22. 22
    manganese proteinate

    Manganese bound to protein for better absorption. The chelated form most premium brands use.

  23. 23
    selenium yeast

    Organic selenium grown in yeast. The form premium brands use, gentler and more bioavailable than sodium selenite.

  24. 24
    calcium iodate

    Source of iodine for thyroid function. Functional, required in complete formulas.

  25. 25
    taurine

    Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.

Showing first 25 of 41. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

24 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.

AAFCO statement

Nutrition & Benefits Guaranteed Analysis Calorie Content: 3,600 kcal me/kg, 385 kcal me/cup Nutrient Percentage of Recipe Crude Protein (min) 26% Crude Fat (min) 15% Crude Fibre (max) 4.5% Moisture (max) 10% Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) (min) 0.11% Calcium (min) 1.2% Phosphorus (min) 1.0% Omega-3 Fatty Acids (min) 0.4% Omega-6 Fatty Acids (min) 1.25% Taurine (min) 0.2% Open Farm New Zealand Venison & Ancient Grains Dog Food is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages except for growth of large size dogs (70 lbs or more as an adult). View Complete Nutritional Profile