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Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Dry Dog Food Great Plains Red Meat Recipe with Healthy Grains, 20-lb bag
Merrick

Backcountry Raw Infused Dry Dog Food Great Plains Red Meat Recipe with Healthy Grains, 20-lb bag

Evidence Fair
AAFCO compliance inferred from product name
dry $4.25/lb

Graded by The Sniff System

In plain English

Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Dry Dog Food Great Plains Red Meat Recipe is a dry food featuring beef, chicken, and salmon.

This food has a strong protein profile, with beef as the first ingredient, providing high biological value. It also includes quality carbohydrate sources with declared fiber and named fat sources like chicken fat, which is a good sign.

The formula contains menadione, a synthetic vitamin K3. While permitted in pet food, it's banned in human supplements due to toxicity concerns, and premium brands often use natural alternatives.

Good fit for dogs whose owners prioritize a strong protein profile and quality fats. Less ideal if you prefer foods without synthetic vitamin K.

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

Who this is for

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) . Strong fit for active large sporting breeds, including the Golden Retriever, navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Beef anchors position 1, with one pulse (pea protein at position 7), plus beef liver at position 13 (a natural taurine precursor) and salmon meal 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

Methodology

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

  • FDA, 2022
    cardiac · epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 5 claims
  • FDA, 2019
    diet composition· cited in 2 claims
  • NRC, 2006
    nutrient bioavailability

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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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 72/100, this formula lands in solid B territory. The lift comes from protein quality, worth 24 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 5 points. Contains menadione. Banned for human OTC use but tolerated at AAFCO-permitted levels in pet food. The only AAFCO-permitted vitamin K source. This formula sits 3.0 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 carbohydrate sources with declared fiber.

CQI

Quality fat sources: named fat with declared fat sources.

FQI
What pulled it down

Contains menadione. Banned for human OTC use but tolerated at AAFCO-permitted levels in pet food. The only AAFCO-permitted vitamin K source..

CIP
What sets this apart
  • Lowest crude fiber in Merrick's lineup (3.9% DMB)
  • Top 4% for DMB protein in grain-inclusive dry kibbles (38.2%)
  • Bottom quartile for caloric density in Merrick's lineup (399 kcal/cup)

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
Merrick Backcountry Chicken-Free Raw Infused Pacific Catch Recipe with Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food, 20-lb bag
Merrick

Merrick Backcountry Chicken-Free Raw Infused Pacific Catch Recipe with Healthy Grains Dry Dog Food, 20-lb bag

76

Scores 4 points higher with a similar formulation profile.

Best value
Lower price, comparable score
Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Real Beef + Brown Rice Recipe with Ancient Grains Adult Dry Dog Food, 33-lb bag
Merrick

Merrick Classic Healthy Grains Real Beef + Brown Rice Recipe with Ancient Grains Adult Dry Dog Food, 33-lb bag

71

$2.85/lb vs your seed's $4.25/lb (33% less) at a comparable score.

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

Controversial ingredients · 1

  • menadione
    Synthetic vitamin K3. Banned in human supplements due to toxicity concerns at high doses. Permitted in pet food but premium brands use natural vitamin K alternatives.

Every flagged ingredient has a published basis (confirmed harm / regulatory action / precautionary). See methodology →

Guaranteed analysis
Dry-matter protein: 38% ⓘ
Protein
34%
min (as fed)
Fat
17%
min (as fed)
Fiber
3.5%
max (as fed)
Moisture
11%
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
    chicken meal

    Chicken with the water cooked out. Per pound, packs more protein than fresh chicken. See why →

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

  3. 3
    salmon meal

    Salmon cooked into a dry concentrate. Carries both protein and natural omega-3s in one ingredient. See why →

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

  4. 4
    brown rice

    Whole grain that's easy to digest. Steady carb energy plus a little fiber.

    Position 4: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.

  5. 5
    oatmeal

    Gentle on the stomach. Slow-release carbs and soluble fiber that supports stool quality.

    Position 5: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.

  6. 6
    barley

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

    Position 6: supporting grain. Smaller contribution to the carb deck.

  7. 7
    pea protein

    Concentrated plant protein. Inflates the protein number on the label without matching the amino acid quality of meat.

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

  8. 8
    chicken 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.

  9. 9
    natural flavor

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

  10. 10
    lamb

    Real meat. Often used for dogs with chicken or beef sensitivities. Slightly higher fat content than chicken.

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

  11. 11
    lamb meal

    Lamb cooked down to a dry concentrate. Per pound, more protein than fresh lamb. See why →

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

  12. 12
    flaxseed

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

    Position 12: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.

  13. 13
    beef liver

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

    Position 13. Small organ inclusion. Functional but not a primary contributor to the protein profile.

  14. 14
    dried yeast

    Natural source of B vitamins and trace minerals. Adds a savory flavor that dogs respond well to.

  15. 15
    tapioca

    Starch from cassava root. Highly digestible energy source, but pure starch with minimal nutrition beyond that.

  16. 16
    potassium chloride

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

  17. 17
    salt

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

  18. 18
    choline chloride

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

  19. 19
    zinc amino acid complex

    Zinc bound to amino acids for better absorption. Same idea as zinc proteinate, the premium form of the mineral.

  20. 20
    iron amino acid complex

    Iron bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus inorganic iron sulfate.

  21. 21
    sodium selenite Flagged

    Inorganic selenium. Effective at AAFCO levels, no documented safety concern in dogs despite what some pet food blogs claim. Selenium yeast is a marginal upgrade, not a necessity. See why →

  22. 22
    manganese amino acid complex

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

  23. 23
    copper amino acid complex

    Copper bound to amino acids for better absorption. Premium form versus copper sulfate.

  24. 24
    calcium iodate

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

  25. 25
    dl-methionine

    Essential amino acid. Often added when plant proteins dominate, since methionine is naturally lower in pulses than meat.

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

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