Grass-Fed Beef Grain-Free Dog Kibble
Graded by The Sniff System
Open Farm Grass-Fed Beef Grain-Free Dog Kibble is a dry food for all life stages, featuring beef, whitefish, and beef liver as its main protein sources.
This food has a strong protein profile, with beef as the first ingredient, which means high biological value for your dog. It also includes quality fat sources like marine oil, providing beneficial EPA and DHA. The addition of beef liver, whitefish meal, and herring meal offers diverse, highly bioavailable protein.
You'll notice several legume ingredients like peas, garbanzo beans, and lentils in the top 15. This legume stacking is a watch point, though it's mitigated here by the inclusion of beef liver in the top 10.
Good fit for dogs of all life stages. Nothing serious working against it, especially with the organ meat mitigating the legume content.
Summary written by The Sniff System from the data above. Same rubric, same drivers, expressed in English.
Good fit for adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and similar moderately active toy breeds navigating diet-associated DCM concerns. Beef anchors position 1, with 4 pulse-family ingredients stacked in the top 15, plus beef liver at position 5 (a natural taurine precursor) and whitefish meal at position 2. The FDA's 2019 investigation update on diet-associated DCM included 13 reported cases in Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, making them one of the top 15 most frequently reported breeds at that time (FDA, 2019) .
Looking at this for adult Cavalier King Charles Spaniels or Cavalier King Charles Spaniels 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, 2022epidemiology · breed predisposition· cited in 4 claims
- FDA, 2019cardiac · diet composition· cited in 3 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 If you find a citation that's wrong, outdated, or misapplied, tell us.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. 75/100 (A) reflects the structural fit of this formula against The Sniff System's eight scoring components. Protein quality did the heavy lifting (+22.5 points): Strong protein profile with beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value. What we'd flag for vet discussion: controversial-ingredient penalty (-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.
Strong protein profile with beef as the primary ingredient, delivering high biological value.
Quality fat sources: named fat with marine oil (EPA and DHA source).
Includes egg, named fish, or organ meat for diverse high-bioavailability protein.
Contains high legume stacking. Multiple pulse-family ingredients in top 15. Mitigated by taurine supplementation or organ meat (natural taurine precursor) in top 10..
- Lowest crude fiber in Open Farm's lineup (5.0% DMB)
- Top 5% for overall Sniff Score in grain-free dry kibbles (75/100)
- Bottom 2% for carb quality in Open Farm's lineup (11/16)
Computed against the rest of our catalog. Percentiles refresh on each catalog update.
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$6.00/lb vs your seed's $7.50/lb (20% 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 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.
- 2protein animalwhitefish meal
Whitefish cooked into a dry concentrate. Strong protein source, common in premium formulas.
Position 2: co-primary protein. Two named animal proteins in the top 2 is a strong protein build.
- 3legumepeas
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 3. Pulse-family ingredient this high in the deck is a notable build choice. When stacked with other pulses in the top 10, matches the formulation pattern the FDA flagged in its diet-associated DCM investigation.
- 4vegetablesweet potato
Complex carb with fiber and beta-carotene. Gentle on the stomach.
Position 4: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 5protein animalbeef liver
Organ meat. Among the most nutrient-dense ingredients available, rich in B vitamins, iron, and vitamin A.
Position 5. Named organ meat this high is a strong build choice. Concentrated source of taurine, glutamine, and B-vitamins.
- 6vegetablepumpkin
Soluble fiber that supports stool quality. Mild and well-tolerated.
Position 6: meaningful whole-food inclusion. Source of vitamins, antioxidants, or natural fiber.
- 7fatcoconut oil
Saturated fat with medium-chain triglycerides. Mostly marketing in the doses kibble uses, but harmless.
Position 7: trace fat. Below the level that materially shifts the fat profile.
- 8legumegarbanzo beans
Same as chickpeas. Part of the legume stack the FDA investigated. See why →
Position 8. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 9protein animalherring meal
Concentrated herring with the water removed. Carries protein and omega-3s in one ingredient.
Position 9: supporting protein. Modest contribution to total protein weight.
- 10legumered lentils
Same concern as other lentils. Affordable plant protein, part of the legume stack the FDA examined. See why →
Position 10. Moderate inclusion. Contributes carbohydrate and some plant protein.
- 11legumelentils
Same concern as peas. Affordable plant protein, but when they pile up in the top 5 ingredients, it's a flag. See why →
Position 11. Trace inclusion. Below the level associated with the FDA's DCM-pattern concerns.
- 12fatflaxseed
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.
- 13othernatural flavor
Legal term for animal-derived flavoring, usually hydrolyzed liver or broth. Adds taste, says nothing about quality.
- 14vegetablecarrots
Real vegetable. Fiber, beta-carotene, and a small amount of antioxidant value.
Position 14: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 15fruitapples
Real fruit, some fiber and antioxidants. The amount in kibble is too small to matter much.
Position 15: garnish-level inclusion. Marketing-prominent but minimal nutritional impact at this position.
- 16fatsunflower oil
Common plant oil. Useful in moderation for omega-6, though too much skews the omega ratio against the dog's favor.
- 17fruitcranberries
Often added with a urinary-tract-support marketing angle. Real cranberry compounds help in concentrate form, but kibble doses are small.
- 18fiberdried chicory root
Natural prebiotic. Feeds beneficial gut bacteria. The same compound (inulin) used in human gut-health products.
- 19mineralsalt
Sodium chloride. Required at small doses for normal physiology. Not a quality concern in standard amounts.
- 20sun cured alfalfa
- 21fatsalmon oil
Pure omega-3s. The thing skin-and-coat formulas are usually built around.
- 22vitaminvitamin e supplement
Required nutrient and a natural antioxidant. Often pulls double duty as a preservative.
- 23vitaminvitamin a supplement
Vitamin A in stable, standardized form. Required for vision, immune function, and growth.
- 24vitaminniacin supplement
B vitamin (B3). Required in complete dog foods, added as a supplement to standardize the dose.
- 25vitamind-calcium pantothenate
B vitamin (B5). Standard inclusion in complete dog foods.
Showing first 25 of 45. Position 1-5 has the largest weight in the recipe.
24 of 25 ingredients have a curated note. Coverage grows over time.
Nutrition & Benefits Guaranteed Analysis Calorie Content: 3625 kcals me/kg, 430 kcal me/cup Nutrient Percentage of Recipe Crude Protein (min) 30% Crude Fat (min) 14% Crude Fibre (max) 4.5% Moisture (max) 10% DHA (min) 0.11% Calcium (min) 1.2% Phosphorus (min) 1.0% Vitamin A (min) 5000 IU/kg Vitamin E (min) 50 IU/kg Omega-6* (min) 1.25% Omega-3* (min) 0.4% Open Farm Grass-Fed Beef Recipe is formulated to meet the nutritional levels established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for All Life Stages except for growth of large size dogs (70 lb. or more as an adult). View Complete Nutritional Profile