Badlands Ranch Dog Food Review (Air-Dried)
Highly Recommended
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Our Verdict
Badlands Ranch air-dried dog food receives a Dog Food Advisor rating of 4.5 stars.
Pros
- Humanely-raised beef and chicken
- Free from wheat, soy, corn and dairy
- Non-GMO ingredients
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Expensive
The Badlands Ranch Superfood product line includes two air-dried dog foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Badlands Ranch Superfood Complete Beef | 4 | M |
| Badlands Ranch Superfood Complete Chicken | 4.5 | M |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Badlands Ranch Superfood Complete Chicken recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Badlands Ranch Superfood Complete Chicken
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Chicken, chicken heart, chicken gizzards, chicken liver, salmon, flaxseed, sweet potato, pumpkin, calcium carbonate, carrots, broccoli, chia seeds, blueberry, ginger, salt, turmeric, lion’s mane mushroom (hericium erinaceus), zinc proteinate, iron proteinate, vitamin E supplement, niacin supplement, selenium yeast, copper proteinate, manganese proteinate, thiamine mononitrate, D-calcium pantothenate, vitamin A supplement, pyridoxine hydrochloride, riboflavin supplement, biotin, vitamin B12 supplement, folic acid, calcium iodate, vitamin D3 supplement, mixed tocopherols (preservative)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5%
Red denotes any controversial items
| Estimated Nutrient Content | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Method | Protein | Fat | Carbs |
| Guaranteed Analysis | 38% | 22% | NA |
| Dry Matter Basis | 45% | 26% | 21% |
| Calorie Weighted Basis | 35% | 49% | 17% |
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient chicken is considered “the clean combination of flesh and skin… derived from the parts or whole carcasses of chicken”. 1.
Chicken is naturally rich in the 10 essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is chicken heart. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, heart tissue is pure muscle — all meat. It’s naturally rich in quality protein, minerals and complex B vitamins, too.
The third ingredient is chicken gizzards. The gizzard is a low-fat, meaty organ found in the digestive tract of birds and assists in grinding up consumed food. This item is considered a canine dietary delicacy.
The fourth ingredient is chicken liver. This is an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.
The fifth ingredient is salmon. Salmon is an oily marine and freshwater fish not only high in protein but also omega-3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every dog to sustain life.
The sixth ingredient is 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.
The seventh ingredient is sweet potato. Sweet potatoes are a gluten-free source of complex carbohydrates in dog food. They are naturally rich in dietary fiber and beta-carotene.
The eighth ingredient is pumpkin. Pumpkin is a nutritious addition high in complex carbohydrates, beta-carotene and dietary fiber.
The ninth ingredient is calcium carbonate, likely used here as a dietary mineral supplement.
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 one notable exception.
Chelated minerals are 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, Badlands Ranch Superfood Complete Chicken looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 44.7%, a fat level of 25.9% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 21.4%.
As a group, the brand features a protein content of 40% and a mean fat level of 27.6%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 24.4% for the overall product line, alongside a fat-to-protein ratio of 71%.
This means Badlands Ranch Superfood range contains above-average protein, below-average carbohydrate, and above-average fat when compared to typical dry dog food.
Badlands Ranch Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Badlands Ranch through April 2024.
No recalls noted.
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
Our Rating of Badlands Ranch Dog Food
This product range from Badlands Ranch is made with high-quality whole-food ingredients, free of preservatives and fillers. It is gently air-dried to retain nutrients, has a good source of fiber, and contains essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.
About
Badlands Ranch is a dog food brand launched by actress and animal rights activist Katherine Heigl.
Named after the Heigl ranch in Utah, where Katherine and her family provide a loving home for animals in need, Badlands Ranch aims to support the lives of pets across the globe through unmatched, exceptional nutrition.
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A Final Word
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