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Butcher's Favorites™, Farm-Raised Beef & Liver Recipe
ACANA

Butcher's Favorites™, Farm-Raised Beef & Liver Recipe

Evidence Good
dry adult maintenance $5.41/lb Data verified from brand site

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

ACANA Butcher's Favorites, Farm-Raised Beef & Liver Recipe is a dry food for adult dogs, featuring beef and pork as its main protein sources.

This recipe boasts a strong protein profile, with beef as the first ingredient, providing high biological value. It also includes quality fat sources like named pork fat, and the combination of fresh meat with same-species meal is a good sign for its overall composition.

The formula does contain multiple pulse-family ingredients like chickpeas, peas, and red lentils in the top 15. This high legume stacking is a watch point, though it's partially mitigated by beef liver appearing in the top 10.

Good fit for adult dogs of any size. Less ideal if your dog has a sensitivity to legumes or a vet-flagged heart condition.

Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.

Who this is for

Frenchies have notoriously sensitive GI tracts plus a tendency toward obesity given their low activity needs. Limited-ingredient formulas with moderate calorie density tend to fit them well. Good fit for lower-energy small companion breeds like French Bulldogs, Bulldogs, and Boston Terriers navigating a sensitive stomach. Beef leads at position 1. What to watch: multiple protein sources stacked (harder to isolate triggers).

Looking at this for adult French Bulldogs or French Bulldogs with a sensitive stomach ? We are building dedicated pages for these combinations.

Auto-matched from this product's measurements (ingredients, life stage, calorie density) to a breed archetype. Not a substitute for vet input on your specific dog.

Research informing this analysis

Methodology

The Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.

Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.

Why this score

At 71/100, this formula lands in solid B territory. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 27 points to the final number: Strong protein profile with beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. Where it lost ground: controversial-ingredient penalty, costing 2 points. Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10. This formula sits 4.0 points below the A-tier line. The most direct lever is controversial-ingredient penalty.

What lifted the score

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

PQI

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

FQI

Named fresh meat paired with same-species meal, a strong extrusion architecture.

STACK
What pulled it down

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
What sets this apart
  • Lowest crude fiber in ACANA's lineup (4.5% DMB)
  • Top 1% for protein quality in grain-free dry kibbles (27/27)
  • Lowest carb quality in ACANA's lineup (8/16)

Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.

Similar dog foods worth considering

Three lenses on products with formulation profiles similar to this one.

Better match
Higher score, similar formulation
ACANA Red Meat & Grains Beef Pork & Lamb Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food, 22.5-lb bag
ACANA

ACANA Red Meat & Grains Beef Pork & Lamb Wholesome Grains Dry Dog Food, 22.5-lb bag

82

Scores 11 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

Best value
Lower price, comparable score
Classics, Beef and Barley Recipe
ACANA

Classics, Beef and Barley Recipe

68

$2.89/lb vs your seed's $5.41/lb (47% less) at a comparable score.

Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 41% ⓘ
Protein
36%
min (as fed)
Fat
17%
min (as fed)
Fiber
4%
max (as fed)
Moisture
12%
max
Ingredients

Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.

39 total
Good Neutral Watch Flagged
  1. 1
    beef

    Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.

    Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.

  2. 2
    beef meal

    Beef cooked down to a dry concentrate. More protein per pound than fresh beef. See why →

    Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.

  3. 3
    pork meal

    Pork cooked into a dry concentrate. Per pound, more protein than fresh pork.

    Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.

  4. 4
    chickpeas

    Also called garbanzo beans. Affordable plant protein source, part of the legume stack the FDA examined in its heart-disease investigation. See why →

    Position 4. Within the FDA's top-5 DCM-pattern threshold. Especially notable if multiple pulses stack here.

  5. 5
    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 →

    Position 5. Within the FDA's top-5 DCM-pattern threshold. Especially notable if multiple pulses stack here.

  6. 6
    beef liver

    Organ meat. Among the most nutrient-dense ingredients available, rich in B vitamins, iron, and vitamin A.

    Position 6. Functional organ inclusion. Adds amino acids and micronutrients even at smaller weight.

  7. 7
    red lentils

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

    Position 7. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.

  8. 8
    pork fat

    Real animal fat from a named species. Clean energy source.

    Position 8: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.

  9. 9
    dried beef

    Real meat. Dense in protein and iron. Some dogs are sensitive to it, but for most it's an excellent base.

    Position 9: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.

  10. 10
    pork

    Real meat. Dense protein and fat, though less common in dog food than chicken or beef.

    Position 10: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.

  11. 11
    eggs

    Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label by amino acid score.

    Position 11: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.

  12. 12
    natural pork flavor

    Position 12: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.

  13. 13
    ground whole flaxseed
  14. 14
    lentils

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

    Position 14. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.

  15. 15
    pea starch

    Refined starch from peas, mostly carbs after the protein is removed. Counts toward the legume stack the FDA examined.

    Position 15. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.

  16. 16
    fish oil

    Concentrated omega-3s. The reason 'EPA' and 'DHA' get to show up on the bag.

  17. 17
    salt

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

  18. 18
    dried kelp

    Natural source of iodine and trace minerals. A common premium-brand inclusion.

  19. 19
    vitamin e supplement

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

  20. 20
    zinc proteinate

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

  21. 21
    taurine

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

  22. 22
    mixed tocopherols

    Natural vitamin E used to keep fats from going rancid. The good kind of preservative. See why →

  23. 23
    vitamin a supplement

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

  24. 24
    vitamin d3 supplement

    The active form of vitamin D dogs need. Required for calcium absorption and bone health.

  25. 25
    dried chicory root

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

Showing first 25 of 39. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.

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

AAFCO statement

ACANA® BUTCHER'S FAVORITES™ FARM-RAISED BEEF & LIVER RECIPE DOG FOOD is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for adult maintenance.