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Sniff
Open Farm

New Zealand Venison Grain-Free Dog Kibble

Evidence Good
dry all life stages $8.25/lb Data verified from brand site

Open Farm New Zealand Venison Grain-Free Dog Kibble earns a Sniff Score of 73/100 (B) with Good evidence. 1 controversial ingredient flagged. Strong protein profile with venison as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value..

Graded by The Sniff System

Why this score

Strong protein profile with venison as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.

PQI

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

FQI

Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.

STACK

Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10..

CIP
Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 33% ⓘ
Protein
30%
min (as fed)
Fat
14%
min (as fed)
Fiber
4.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
10%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

42 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    venison

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

  2. 2
    peas

    Cheap protein bulk. Fine in small amounts, but when peas stack with lentils and chickpeas in the top ingredients, it's the pattern the FDA flagged in its heart-disease investigation. See why →

  3. 3
    whitefish meal

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

  4. 4
    sweet potato

    Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.

  5. 5
    herring meal

    Concentrated herring with the water removed. Carries protein and omega-3s in one ingredient.

  6. 6
    garbanzo beans

    Same as chickpeas. Part of the legume stack the FDA investigated. See why →

  7. 7
    red lentils

    Same concern as other lentils. Affordable plant protein, part of the legume stack the FDA examined. See why →

  8. 8
    lentils

    Same concern as peas. Affordable plant protein, but when they pile up in the top 5 ingredients, it's a flag. See why →

  9. 9
    coconut oil

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

  10. 10
    flaxseed

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

  11. 11
    pumpkin

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

  12. 12
    natural flavor

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

  13. 13
    carrots

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

  14. 14
    apples

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

  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
    salmon oil

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

  17. 17
    cranberries

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

  18. 18
    dried chicory root

    Natural prebiotic. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria. The same compound (inulin) used in human gut-health products.

  19. 19
    salt

    Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.

  20. 20
    sun cured alfalfa
  21. 21
    choline chloride

    Essential nutrient for liver and brain function. Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

  22. 22
    vitamin e supplement

    Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.

  23. 23
    vitamin a supplement

    Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.

  24. 24
    niacin supplement

    B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.

  25. 25
    d-calcium pantothenate

    B vitamin (B5). Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.

Showing first 25 of 42. 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: 3670 kcals me/kg, 440 kcal me/cup Nutrient Percentage of Recipe Crude Protein (min) 30% Crude Fat (min) 14% Crude Fibre (max) 4.5% Moisture (max) 10% DHA (min) 0.11% Calcium (min) 1.2% Phosphorus (min) 1.0% Vitamin A (min) 5000 IU/kg Vitamin E (min) 50 IU/kg Taurine (min) 0.2% Omega-6* (min) 1.25% Omega-3* (min) 0.4% Open Farm New Zealand Venison Recipe 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 lb. or more as an adult). View Complete Nutritional Profile