N&D Ancestral Grain Lamb & Blueberry Recipe Adult Mini Breed Dry Dog Food, 15.4-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Lamb & Blueberry Recipe is a dry food for adult mini breed dogs, with lamb as the primary protein.
This formula has a strong protein profile, with lamb as the primary ingredient, meaning it's easily used by your dog's body. It also features quality carbohydrate sources that provide beneficial fermentable fiber. Plus, the fat sources are good, including marine oil for EPA and DHA.
The formula contains yeast extract, which can be a source of MSG. While the safety signal is often internet-fueled, the real issue is that yeast extract can obscure the true formulation.
Good fit for adult mini breed dogs. Less ideal if you prefer foods without yeast extract.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Strong fit for active large sporting breeds like Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, and Irish Setters navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Working in its favor: taurine listed as added ingredient. Lamb anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus herring at position 7. In its 2022 update on diet-associated DCM, the FDA identified Golden Retrievers as the most reported breed, with 121 cases out of 1,382 total canine reports (8.8%) received between January 1, 2014, and November 1, 2022 (FDA, 2022) .
Looking at this for adult Golden Retrievers or Golden Retrievers with diet-associated DCM concerns ? 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
MethodologyThe Sniff System grades this product against 3 cited studies relevant to its profile. Each link opens the original source.
- FDA, 2022cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
- FDA, 2019diet composition· cited in 2 claims
- NRC, 2006nutrient bioavailability
Every claim on Sniff traces to a source. If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Strong grade. 79/100 (A) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Protein quality did the heavy lifting (+21 points): Strong protein profile with lamb as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. What we'd flag for vet discussion: controversial-ingredient penalty (-3 points). Contains msg. Safety signal is internet-fueled; real issue is transparency. Yeast extract as MSG loophole obscures formulation.
Strong protein profile with lamb as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
Contains msg. Safety signal is internet-fueled; real issue is transparency. Yeast extract as MSG loophole obscures formulation..
- Bottom 3% for crude fiber in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (3.2% DMB)
- Top 5% for overall Sniff Score in dry kibbles (79/100)
- Bottom 10% for fat quality in Farmina's lineup (12/16)
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.
Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Lamb & Blueberry Recipe Puppy Mini Dry Dog Food, 5.5-lb bag
Scores 2 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Farmina N&D Tropical Selection Lamb Puppy Medium & Maxi Dry Dog Food, 22-lb bag
$3.64/lb vs your seed's $5.00/lb (27% less) at a comparable score.
Surfaced from a vector similarity search across 3,491 scored dog foods. How this works.
Read why each ingredient is good or bad for dogs.
- 1protein animallamb
Real meat. Often used for dogs with chicken or beef sensitivities. Slightly higher fat content than chicken.
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2dehydrated lamb
Real meat. Often used for dogs with chicken or beef sensitivities. Slightly higher fat content than chicken.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3dehydrated chicken
Real meat. Primary protein source, with the amino acid profile dogs actually evolved to eat.
Position 3: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 4spelt
Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 5grainoats
Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.
Position 5: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 6dried whole eggs
Position 6: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 7herring
Whole fish, naturally high in omega-3s and very digestible protein. Common in premium formulas.
Position 7: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 8dehydrated herring
Whole fish, naturally high in omega-3s and very digestible protein. Common in premium formulas.
Position 8: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 9grainbarley
Whole grain with a low glycemic profile and some soluble fiber. Easy on blood sugar.
Position 9: minor grain inclusion.
- 10fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 10: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 11dehydrated pork
Real meat. Dense protein and fat, though less common in dog food than chicken or beef.
Position 11: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 12pork fat
Real animal fat from a named species. Clean energy source.
Position 12: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 13othernatural flavors
Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.
- 14herring oil
Concentrated omega-3 from herring. Same role as salmon oil, skin and coat support.
Position 14: trace protein. Likely there for amino-acid diversity or label appeal more than nutritional weight.
- 15fiberdried beet pulp
Soluble fiber from sugar-beet processing. Sometimes treated as a filler, but it's actually one of the better fiber sources in kibble. See why →
Position 15: trace fiber inclusion.
- 16dried carrot
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, antioxidants. Same as carrots, sometimes singular on labels.
- 17suncured alfalfa meal
Sun-dried alfalfa, preserving more of the natural vitamins than heat-dried versions.
- 18fiberinulin
Prebiotic fiber that feeds beneficial gut bacteria. Same compound found in chicory root.
- 19fructooligosaccharide
Prebiotic fiber, often abbreviated FOS. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria.
- 20yeast extract
Yeast broken down to a paste. Strong palatant plus a real source of B vitamins.
- 21dried blueberry
- 22dried apple
Whole apple with the moisture removed. Real fruit, fiber, modest nutrition contribution.
- 23dried pomegranate
Antioxidants, real. Like other fruit additions, the dose in kibble is mostly cosmetic.
- 24dried sweet orange
- 25dried spinach
Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.
Showing first 25 of 58. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
21 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.