Kibble in the Raw Beef Recipe Non-GMO Freeze-Dried Dog Food, 144-oz bag
Graded by The Sniff System
Primal Kibble in the Raw Beef Recipe Non-GMO Freeze-Dried Dog Food is a freeze-dried food with beef as its primary protein.
This food features a strong protein profile with beef as the primary ingredient, offering high biological value. It also includes quality carbohydrate sources with fermentable fiber and good fat sources like named fat and marine oil, which provides EPA and DHA.
The main thing to note is the absence of an AAFCO statement, which means its nutritional completeness for any life stage is unverified. This factor capped its overall score.
Good fit for owners seeking a freeze-dried food with quality protein and fat sources. Less ideal if you need AAFCO verification for nutritional completeness.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for adult Golden Retrievers navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Working in its favor: taurine listed as added ingredient. Beef anchors position 1, with zero pulses in the top 15, plus salmon oil 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.
Middle-of-pack grade. 59/100 (C) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Protein quality did the heavy lifting (+21.5 points): Strong protein profile with beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. What capped it: the score can't exceed 59 because the AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement isn't disclosed on the retailer page (so our methodology can't verify the formula meets adult, growth, or all-life-stages standards). How it could climb: the brand publishing the AAFCO statement, which would lift the cap into B-band range.
Strong protein profile with beef 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).
No AAFCO statement. Nutritional completeness unverified.
- Lowest DMB protein in Primal's lineup (27.2%)
- Top 10% for protein quality in Primal's lineup (21.5/27)
- Lowest fat quality in Primal'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.
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 animalbeef
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.
- 2beef livers
Position 2. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 3grainsorghum
Whole grain with a low glycemic index. Gluten-free, well-tolerated, decent fiber content.
Position 3: major carbohydrate source.
- 4apple
Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.
- 5beef tallow
Position 5: significant protein contributor. Adds amino-acid diversity to the top of the deck.
- 6egg
Whole eggs. The highest-quality protein on any ingredient label, by amino acid score.
Position 6: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 7fatsalmon oil
Pure omega-3s. The thing skin-and-coat formulas are usually built around.
Position 7. Moderate marine-oil inclusion. Supplements EPA/DHA without being the primary fat.
- 8vegetablesweet potato
Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.
Position 8: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 9carrot
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, antioxidants. Same as carrots, sometimes singular on labels.
- 10beef plasma
Position 10: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 11vegetablekale
Leafy green with antioxidants and fiber. Small dose in kibble, but it's not just for marketing.
Position 11: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 12vegetablespinach
Leafy green. Some iron, vitamin K, and fiber. The dose in kibble is small but it's real food.
Position 12: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 13montmorillonite clay
Natural clay used as a binder and anti-caking agent. Functional, not nutritional.
- 14fibermiscanthus grass
Perennial grass used as a fiber source. Replaces cellulose in some recipes. Functional but unremarkable.
Position 14: trace fiber inclusion.
- 15coconut
- 16dried yeast
Natural source of B vitamins and trace minerals. Adds a savory flavor that dogs respond well to.
- 17cod liver oil
- 18vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 19vegetable oil
Unnamed plant oil. Could be soy, canola, corn, or a blend. Named oils like sunflower or canola are more transparent.
- 20ground alfalfa
- 21fiberinulin
Prebiotic fiber that feeds beneficial gut bacteria. Same compound found in chicory root.
- 22dried organic kelp
- 23preservative naturalmixed tocopherols
Natural vitamin E used to keep fats from going rancid. The good kind of preservative. See why →
- 24supplementtaurine
Amino acid critical for heart health. Especially important in grain-free or pulse-heavy formulas where natural taurine precursors run thin.
- 25supplementgreen tea extract
Showing first 25 of 26. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
17 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.