Rating: 
Whole Earth Farms dry dog food gets the Advisor’s second-highest rating of four stars.
The Whole Earth Farms product line lists three dry dog foods… each meeting AAFCO nutrient profiles for all life stages.
- Whole Earth Farms Puppy Formula
- Whole Earth Farms Adult Formula
- Whole Earth Farms Senior Formula
Whole Earth Farms Adult Formula was selected to represent all the products in the line for this review.
Whole Earth Farms Adult Formula
Dry Dog Food
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Ingredients: Chicken meal, turkey meal, oat meal, pearled barley, ground rice, ground millet, ground barley, chicken fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols, a source of vitamin E), duck, buffalo, white fish, natural chicken liver flavor, salmon oil (a natural source of omega-3, docosahexaenoic acid DHA), organic alfalfa sun-cured ground, yeast culture, tomato pomace dried, dried egg, organic sunflower seed ground, salt, calcium phosphate, potassium chloride, choline chloride, lysine, blueberry dried, cranberry dried, Yucca schidigera extract,inulin (from chicory root), rosemary, sage, thyme, cinnamon, marigold dried, zinc amino acid complex, Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus casei, iron amino acid complex, vitamin E supplement, manganese amino acid complex, vitamin A supplement, vitamin B12 supplement, copper amino acid complex, D-calcium pantothenate, vitamin D3, niacin, lecithin, riboflavin, supplement, biotin, ethylenediamine dihydriodide, pyridoxine hydrochloride, cobalt amino acid complex, folic acid, thiamine mononitrate, sodium selenite
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.4%
Red items when present indicate controversial ingredients
The first two items in this product are chicken and turkey meals. Both meals are considered meat concentrates and contain nearly 300% more protein than fresh poultry.
The third ingredient is oatmeal… a whole-grain product made from coarsely ground oats. Oatmeal is naturally rich in B-vitamins, fiber and is (unlike many other grains) mostly gluten-free.
The fourth 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 fifth ingredient is identified as ground rice. Is this whole grain rice, brown rice or white rice? Since the word “rice” doesn’t tell us much, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this item.
The sixth ingredient is millet… gluten-free grains harvested from certain seed grasses. Millet is hypoallergenic and naturally rich in B-vitamins and fiber… as well as other essential minerals.
The seventh ingredient again mentions barley. We’re not sure why this ingredient is listed again. Is it a different type of barley or is it simply a typo?
The eighth 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 next three items are all additional sources of animal protein…
- Duck
- Buffalo
- Whitefish
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 affect the overall rating of this product.
With four notable exceptions…
First, the salmon oil listed here is naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids… essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
Next, tomato pomace is a controversial ingredient… a by-product left after processing tomatoes into juice, soup and ketchup.
Many praise tomato pomace for its high fiber and nutrient content… while others scorn it as a cheap pet food filler laden with pesticides found on the skin of the tomato before processing.
Just the same, there’s probably not enough tomato pomace here to make much of a difference.
Thirdly, the manufacturer appears to have applied friendly bacteria to the surface of the kibble after cooking. These special probiotics are used to enhance a dog’s digestive and immune functions.
And lastly, this food also contains chelated minerals… minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better dog foods.
Whole Earth Farms Dry Dog Foods
The Bottom Line
Whole Earth Farms is Merrick Pet Care’s value line of kibble. But you’d never know it as you notice the quality of this list of ingredients.
But ingredient quality by itself cannot tell the whole story. We still need to estimate the product’s meat content before determining a final rating.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 27%, a fat level of 14% and estimated carbohydrates of about 52%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 28% and a mean fat level of 15%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 49% for the overall product line.
Average protein. Average fat. And average carbohydrates… when compared to a typical dry dog food.
With no sign of any plant-based protein boosters, this looks like the profile of a kibble containing a moderate amount of meat.
Bottom line?
Whole Earth Farms is primarily a grain-based dry dog food using a moderate amount of chicken meal and turkey meal as its main sources of animal protein… thus earning the brand four stars.
This is welcome news… particularly when you consider its value pricing.
Highly recommended.
Those looking for a wet food from the same company may wish to visit our review of Whole Earth Farms canned dog food.
A Final Word
This review is designed to help you make a more informed decision when buying dog food. However, our rating system is not intended to suggest feeding a particular product will result in a specific health benefit for your pet.
For a better understanding of how we analyzed this product, please be sure to read our article, “The Problem with Dog Food Reviews”
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… or maybe the review itself? Please know… we welcome your comments.
Notes and Updates
02/06/2010 Original review
09/12/2010 Review update
The Dog Food Advisor publishes independent reviews to help pet owners make better choices when shopping for dog food.
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