Rating: 
Nature’s Variety Prairie Dog Food (dry) earns the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
Currently, the Nature’s Variety Prairie brand includes five kibbles… each designed to meet AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- Nature’s Variety Prairie Beef Meal and Barley Medley
- Nature’s Variety Prairie Lamb Meal and Oatmeal Medley
- Nature’s Variety Prairie Salmon Meal and Brown Rice Medley
- Nature’s Variety Prairie Chicken Meal and Brown Rice Medley
- Nature’s Variety Prairie New Zealand Venison Meal and Millet
Nature’s Variety Prairie Beef Meal and Barley Medley was selected to represent the others in the line for this review.
Nature's Variety Prairie Beef Meal and Barley Medley
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Beef meal, barley, brown rice, oatmeal, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols and citric acid), ground flaxseeds, montmorillonite clay, natural chicken flavor, alfalfa meal, potassium chloride, vitamins (choline chloride, vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid, biotin, niacin supplement, vitamin A acetate, d-calcium pantothenate, riboflavin supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, ethylenediamine dihydriodide, thiamine mononitrate, vitamin B12 supplement, beta carotene, vitamin D3 supplement, folic acid), sea salt, minerals (zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, manganese proteinate, copper proteinate, sodium selenite), chicken liver, inulin, flaxseed oil, dried Enterococcus faecium fermentation product, dried Lactobacillus acidophilus fermentation product, apples, carrots, peas, cottage cheese, chicken eggs, freeze dried beef, freeze dried beef hearts, freeze dried beef liver, pumpkinseeds, ground beef bone, butternut squash, broccoli, lettuce, spinach, dried kelp, salmon oil, apple cider vinegar, parsley, honey, blueberries, alfalfa sprouts, persimmons, olive oil, duck eggs, pheasant eggs, quail eggs, sage, clove, rosemary extract
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.9%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first ingredient in this dog food product is beef meal. Beef meal is considered a meat concentrate and contains nearly 300% more protein than fresh beef.
The second ingredient is barley. Barley is a starchy carbohydrate supplying fiber and other healthy nutrients. Unlike grains with a higher glycemic index (like rice), barley can help support stable blood sugar levels in dogs.
The third ingredient is listed as oatmeal… a whole-grain product made from coarsely grinding raw oats. Oatmeal is rich in natural fiber, B-vitamins and (unlike many other grains) is mostly gluten-free.
The fourth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken… a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid… an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
The fifth ingredient includes ground flax seeds… one of the best vegetable sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. And the seeds are naturally rich in both soluble and insoluble fiber.
From here, the list goes on to include a number of other items.
But to be realistic, ingredients located this far down the list (other than nutritional supplements) are not likely to have much of an effect on the overall quality of this product.
Except for one notable exception…
Prairie contains montmorillonite… a naturally occurring clay rich in numerous minerals. Montmorillonite has been approved for use in USDA Organic Certified products.
Reported benefits include the binding of certain mold-based toxins and even controlling diarrhea.
In addition…
The manufacturer appears to have added back some of the “good” bacteria lost during the cooking process. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
This dog food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to amino acids. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are generally found in better dog foods.
Nature’s Variety Prairie… the Bottom Line
Judging by the quality of its ingredients, Nature’s Variety Prairie looks like a winner.
However, it’s still important to consult the product’s nutrient percentages before establishing a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 29%, a fat level of 16% and an estimated carbohydrate content of 48%.
All five products match the brand average of 29% protein… and 16% fat.
Average protein. Moderate fat. And average carbohydrates (when compared to a typical dry dog food).
This is the profile of a kibble containing only a moderate amount of meat.
Yet its difficult not to notice the lack of any Red Flag items as well as the favorable inclusion of both probiotics and chelated minerals.
Bottom line?
Nature’s Variety Prairie is primarily a grain-based kibble using a respectable amount of species-specific meat meals as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for an excellent “wet” product may wish to read our review of Nature’s Variety Prairie Canned Dog Food.
You can see a recap of all the product lines made by this company by visiting our summary page… Nature’s Variety Dog Food Reviews.
A Final Word
Remember, no dog food can possibly be appropriate for every life stage, lifestyle or health condition. So, choose wisely. And when in doubt consult a veterinarian for help.
Have an opinion about this dog food brand… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi! I use Nature’s Variety for my dogs..the Prairie/Instinct line and also the raw. However, I would like to see a review for Merrick (all lines, including their new Whole Earth Farms) and Eagle Pack Holistic Select. Thanks for all this work you are doing. It is greatly appreciated!
I’ve been using Mature’s Variety Prairie and Raw for about a year now. I feed raw for approx 1/3 to 1/2 of their meals. I do not mix the raw with the kibble. It is fed as a separate meal. This combination works well for me dogs. I noticed improved coat quality, more energy and firmer stools. The improvement is especially noticeable in my setter who had slightly itchy skin and occasional bad breath and stomach activity before.
I use to feed Eagle Pack Holistic before and was pretty happy with that but Prairie has been giving us better results. I’ve tried “instinct” and I believe is a bit too high in protein for, especially, my setter. She does better with some grain in her kibble.