Redbarn Air Dried Dog Food Review (Dry)
Highly Recommended
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Which Redbarn Air Dried Recipes Get Our Best Ratings?
Redbarn Air Dried Dog Food earns The Advisor’s top rating of 5 stars.
The Redbarn Air Dried product line includes the 3 dog foods listed below.
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile when available… Growth (puppy), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
| Product | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Redbarn Air Dried Chicken Recipe | 5 | A |
| Redbarn Air Dried Fish Recipe | 5 | A |
| Redbarn Air Dried Beef Recipe | 4.5 | A |
Recipe and Label Analysis
Redbarn Air Dried Fish Recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Redbarn Air Dried Fish Recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Ocean fish, sunflower oil, dicalcium phosphate, miscanthus grass, coconut flour, flaxseed, sodium alginate, calcium lactate, salmon oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), salt, potassium chloride, choline (choline chloride), ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, vitamin E (vitamin E supplement), copper sulfate, sodium selenite, manganese sulfate, vitamin B3 (niacin supplement), vitamin B5 (calcium pantothenate), vitamin B2 (riboflavin supplement), vitamin A (vitamin A supplement), vitamin B12 (vitamin B12 supplement), vitamin B1 (thiamine mononitrate), vitamin B6 (pyridoxine hydrochloride), calcium iodate, vitamin D (vitamin D3 supplement), vitamin B9 (folic acid)
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 8%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredient Analysis
The first ingredient in this dog food is ocean fish. This item is typically sourced from clean, undecomposed whole fish and fish cuttings of commercial fish operations.1
Unfortunately, the phrase “ocean fish” is vague and does little to adequately describe this ingredient. Since some fish are higher in omega-3 fats than others, it’s impossible for us to judge the quality of this item.
In any case, fish meat is naturally rich in the ten essential amino acids required by a dog to sustain life.
The second ingredient is sunflower oil. Sunflower oil is nutritionally similar to safflower oil. Since these oils are high in omega-6 fatty acids and contain no omega-3’s, they’re considered less nutritious than canola or flaxseed oils.
Sunflower oil is notable for its resistance to heat damage during cooking.
There are several different types of sunflower oil, some better than others. Without knowing more, it’s impossible to judge the quality of this ingredient.
The third ingredient is dicalcium phosphate, likely used here as a dietary calcium supplement.
The fourth ingredient is miscanthus grass, also known as elephant grass. Miscanthus is a non-GMO source of crude fiber.
The fifth ingredient is coconut flour, a powder derived from dried, defatted coconut meat. This cereal grain replacement is high in fiber and low in digestible carbohydrates. In addition, coconut flour also contains about 18% protein, a factor that must be considered when judging the actual meat content of this dog food.
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.
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 4 notable exceptions…
First, salmon oil is naturally rich in the prized EPA and DHA type of omega-3 fatty acids. These two high quality fats boast the highest bio-availability to dogs and humans.
Depending on its level of freshness and purity, salmon oil should be considered a commendable addition.
Next, the minerals listed here do not appear to be chelated. And that can make them more difficult to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually associated with higher quality dog foods.
In addition, we find no mention of probiotics, friendly bacteria applied to the surface of the kibble after processing to help with digestion.
And lastly, this recipe contains sodium selenite, a controversial form of the mineral selenium. Sodium selenite appears to be nutritionally inferior to the more natural source of selenium found in selenium yeast.
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Redbarn Air Dried Fish Recipe looks like an above-average dry dog food.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 36%, a fat level of 25% and estimated carbohydrates of about 31%.
As a group, the brand features an average protein content of 42% and a mean fat level of 27%. Together, these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 23% for the overall product line.
And a fat-to-protein ratio of about 64%.
Above-average protein. Above-average fat. And below-average carbs when compared to a typical dry dog food.
Even when you consider the protein-boosting effect of the coconut flour and flaxseed, this still looks like the profile of an air-dried dog food containing a significant amount of meat.
Our Rating of Redbarn Air Dried Dog Food
Redbarn Air Dried is a grain-free dry dog food using a significant amount of named meat as its dominant source of animal protein, thus earning the brand 5 stars.
Enthusiastically recommended.
Please note certain recipes are sometimes given a higher or lower rating based upon our estimate of their total meat content and (when appropriate) their fat-to-protein ratios.
Redbarn Air Dried Dog Food Recall History
The following automated list (if present) includes all dog food recalls related to Redbarn through April.
- Redbarn Expands Recall to Include Multiple Brands of Dog Chews (3/8/2018)
- Redbarn Bully Stick Dog Chews Recall (2/10/2018)
You can view a complete list of all dog food recalls since 2009 here.
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More Redbarn Brand Reviews
The following Redbarn dog food reviews are also posted on this website:
- Redbarn Grain Free Dog Food Review (Dry)
- Redbarn Naturals Dog Food Review (Rolls)
- Redbarn Whole Grain Dog Food Review (Dry)
Compare This Dog Food
How does this brand compare with The Dog Food Advisor's most recommended brands?
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