N&D Ocean Codfish & Orange Ancestral Grain Mini Adult Dry Dog Food, 5.5-lb bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Farmina N&D Ocean Codfish & Orange Ancestral Grain Mini Adult Dry Dog Food is a dry formula for adult dogs, featuring cod as its primary protein source.
This food uses quality carbohydrate sources like spelt and barley, which also provide fermentable fiber. It also has good fat sources, including herring oil, which is a marine oil rich in EPA and DHA. The formula's nutritional adequacy for adult maintenance is backed by AAFCO feeding trial data.
The main thing to watch is the protein quality. Cod, while a named protein, delivers limited bioavailable amino acids, which means your dog might not get the full protein benefit from it.
Good fit for adult dogs who do well on a fish-based diet. Less ideal if you prioritize highly bioavailable protein sources.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
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) . Good fit for adult Golden Retrievers navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Cod anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus herring oil at position 3.
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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
At 66/100, this formula lands in solid B territory. The lift comes from carbohydrate quality, worth 16 points to the final number: Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber. Where it lost ground: protein quality, costing 17 points. Low protein quality. cod delivers limited bioavailable amino acids. The path to A-tier is about 9 points; protein quality is the structural lever.
Quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
AAFCO feeding trial substantiation for adult maintenance.
Low protein quality. cod delivers limited bioavailable amino acids.
- Bottom 3% for crude fiber in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (3.2% DMB)
- Top quartile for DMB protein in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (33.0%)
- Bottom 10% for protein quality in Farmina's lineup (7.8/27)
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 15 points higher with a similar formulation profile.
Farmina N&D Ocean Codfish & Orange Ancestral Grain Medium & Maxi Adult Dry Dog Food, 26.5-lb bag
$4.04/lb vs your seed's $6.73/lb (40% 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.
- 1cod
Position 1: primary protein source. After cooking removes water, this may drop in proportional weight, but it anchors the recipe.
- 2dehydrated cod
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3herring oil
Concentrated omega-3 from herring. Same role as salmon oil, skin and coat support.
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.
- 5dehydrated fish
- 6hydrolyzed fish
- 7grainbarley
Whole grain with a low glycemic profile and some soluble fiber. Easy on blood sugar.
Position 7: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.
- 8fatchicken fat
Despite the name, a high-quality energy source. Concentrated calories plus essential fatty acids like linoleic acid. See why →
Position 8: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 9pork fat
Real animal fat from a named species. Clean energy source.
Position 9: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 10grainoats
Whole grain. Steady energy, soluble fiber, and well-tolerated by most dogs.
Position 10: minor grain inclusion.
- 11othernatural flavors
Same as natural flavor. Usually hydrolyzed liver or broth, adds palatability.
- 12fiberdried 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 12: trace fiber inclusion.
- 13dried carrot
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, antioxidants. Same as carrots, sometimes singular on labels.
- 14suncured alfalfa meal
Sun-dried alfalfa, preserving more of the natural vitamins than heat-dried versions.
- 15fiberinulin
Prebiotic fiber that feeds beneficial gut bacteria. Same compound found in chicory root.
Position 15: trace fiber inclusion.
- 16fructooligosaccharide
Prebiotic fiber, often abbreviated FOS. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria.
- 17mineralcalcium carbonate
Source of calcium. Functional. Required in complete dog foods, especially those without bone-in meat meals.
- 18monocalcium phosphate
Source of calcium and phosphorus. Standard mineral inclusion in complete dog foods.
- 19dried sweet orange
- 20dried apple
Whole apple with the moisture removed. Real fruit, fiber, modest nutrition contribution.
- 21dried pomegranate
Antioxidants, real. Like other fruit additions, the dose in kibble is mostly cosmetic.
- 22dried spinach
Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.
- 23psyllium seed husk
Soluble fiber. Supports stool quality. The same fiber humans use for digestive regularity.
- 24dried blueberry
- 25mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
Showing first 25 of 55. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
18 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.