Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Farmina N&D Brown dry product range consists of four recipes, each receiving the Dog Food Advisor’s rating of 5 stars.
These recipes are formulated to help protect vibrant brown fur from losing color. The recipes have quality meat as the top ingredient.
Pros
- Real animal proteins in each recipe
- High-quality ingredients
- Non-GMO ingredients
Cons
- Expensive
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available… Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
Recipe and Label Analysis
Farmina N&D Brown Lamb, Norwegian Kelp, and Carrot Mini was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Farmina N&D Brown Lamb, Norwegian Kelp, and Carrot Mini
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Lamb, dehydrated lamb, sweet potatoes, pea starch, dehydrated pork, pork fat, hydrolyzed fish, chicken fat, herring oil, dehydrated fish, natural flavors, dried kelp, flaxseed, dried carrot, turmeric, pea fiber, suncured alfalfa meal, inulin, fructooligosaccharide, chamomile, dried spinach, psyllium seed husk, brewers dried yeast, dicalcium phosphate, potassium chloride, powdered cellulose, salt, glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin sulfate, vitamin A supplement, vitamin D3 supplement, vitamin E supplement, ascorbic acid, niacin, calcium pantothenate, riboflavin, pyridoxine hydrochloride, thiamine hydrochloride, biotin, folic acid, vitamin B12 supplement, choline chloride, beta-carotene, zinc methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, manganese methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, ferrous glycine, copper methionine hydroxy analogue chelate, selenium yeast, dl-methionine, taurine, l-carnitine, aloe vera gel concentrate, green tea extract, rosemary extract, mixed tocopherols (a preservative)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 3.3%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 34% | 18% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 37% | 20% | 35% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 31% | 40% | 29% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is lamb. Lamb is considered “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered” lamb and associated with skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus. 1
Lamb is naturally rich in all 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is dehydrated lamb. Dehydrated lamb is considered a meat concentrate and contains more than four times as much protein as fresh lamb.
The third ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in a dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta carotene.
The fourth ingredient is pea starch, a paste-like, gluten-free carbohydrate extract probably used here as a binder for making kibble. Aside from its energy content (calories), pea starch is of only modest nutritional value to a dog.
The fifth ingredient is dehydrated pork. Dehydrated pork is considered a meat concentrate and contains more than four times as much protein as fresh pork.
The sixth ingredient is pork fat, a product from rendering pig meat.
Commonly known as lard, pork fat can add significant flavor to a dog food. And it can be high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life.
Although it may not sound very appetizing, pork fat (in moderate amounts) is actually an acceptable pet food ingredient.
The seventh ingredient is hydrolyzed-fish-protein. Hydrolyzed fish protein is considered a meat concentrate, as fish proteins contain almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.
Being hydrolyzed means the fish has been chemically broken-down into its component amino acids. Hydrolyzed proteins are considered hypoallergenic as they are not identifiable by the body to trigger allergy reactions.
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 ninth ingredient is herring oil. Herring oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high-quality fats boast the highest bioavailability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, herring oil should be considered a commendable addition.
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 the product.
This recipe has five notable exceptions.
First, taurine, an important amino acid associated with the healthy function of heart muscle. Although taurine is not typically considered essential in canines, some dogs have been shown to be deficient in this critical nutrient.
We view the presence of taurine in this recipe as a positive addition.
Next, this recipe contains fructooligosaccharide, an alternative sweetener probably used here as a prebiotic. Prebiotics function to support the growth of healthy bacteria in the large intestine.
We note the inclusion of inulin, a starch-like compound made up of repeating units of carbohydrates and typically sourced from chicory root.
Not only is inulin a natural source of soluble dietary fiber, it’s also a used to promote the growth of healthy bacteria in a dog’s digestive tract.
Next, flaxseed, one of the best plant sources of healthy omega-3 fatty acids. Provided they’ve first been ground into a meal, flax seeds are also rich in soluble fiber.
However, flaxseed contains about 19% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
In addition, this food includes 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.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Farmina N&D Brown Lamb, Norwegian Kelp, and Carrot Mini looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 37.4%, a fat level of 19.8% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 34.9%, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 53%.
This means Farmina N&D Brown contains above-average protein, below-average carbohydrate, and above-average fat when compared to typical dry dog food.
Farmina Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Farmina through March 2026.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Farmina N&D Brown Dry Dog Food
Farmina is a premium high-quality product that formulates all its dog foods with natural, non-GMO ingredients and through strict production and quality control.
This product range is certainly worthy of the 5 stars the brand has earned in our review.
About
Francesco Russo founded the Russo Mangimi company in 1965 specializing in animal nutrition. In 1999, the company’s focus shifted to the pet food industry with a new perspective of developing foods based on scientific studies focused on the well-being of pets.
The Mangimi company started to collaborate with Farmina, an English company specializing in food research and formulation.
Mangima manufacturing facilities are based in Europe and Farmina foods are mostly sourced from Italy. Some ingredients are sourced from Europe and New Zealand.
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