Label analysisGrade DListed ingredientsKibble (Extruded)

Merrick

Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Great Plains Red Beef Lamb

Calculate portions with this foodChoosing for your dog
Editor ingredient insight

Merrick Backcountry Great Plains starts with beef, pork, salmon meal, and later lamb and beef liver, with very high protein and fat.

It is worth considering for active dogs that suit mixed meats, not for fat-sensitive or protein-restricted feeding.

Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Illustration of beef beside a dog-food bowl
Primary protein ingredient · Beef

01. NUTRIENT PROFILE

Key nutrients & mineral profile

As-fed basis
Disclosed protein and fat
Protein 35%Fat 17%Other 48%Other includes moisture, ash and remaining components.
Position within the same processing type

Compare protein, fat and energy density in low, typical and high bands.

Protein positionHigher

This food is on the higher side for crude protein among extruded foods.

Fat positionHigher

This food is on the higher side for crude fat among extruded foods.

Calorie densityTypical

This food sits around the typical calorie range among extruded foods. Check the feeding guide and weight trend alongside this comparison.

Key guaranteed nutrientsAs-fed
CalciumNot disclosed
PhosphorusNot disclosed
Crude fiber3.5%
Omega-30.3%
Omega-62.3%

Undisclosed values are not treated as zero.

02. INGREDIENT QUALITY & DISCLOSURE

Disclosed ingredients & ingredient grade

The analysis uses the registered ingredients. Complete-panel coverage is not verified, so an unlisted ingredient cannot be assumed absent.

Listed ingredients

Read the listed ingredients below. Complete-panel coverage is not verified here; do not infer that an unlisted ingredient is absent.

Beef ingredient illustration
Primary protein ingredient · Beef
C3/6Ingredient gradeMixed
Ingredient #1 · Deboned BeefTop
Fresh Meat
Ingredient #2 · Pork and Bone MealLower
Generic Meal
Ingredient #3 · Salmon MealUpper
Named Meal
Ingredient #1Top

Deboned Beef

Deboned Beef is a named fresh meat ingredient. The animal source is clearly identified. It reads as an top-tier protein source.

Ingredient #2Lower

Pork and Bone Meal

Pork and Bone Meal is a generic rendered protein source. Protein may be concentrated, but the animal source is not specific. It reads as an lower-tier protein source.

Ingredient #3Upper

Salmon Meal

Salmon Meal is a species-named animal meal ingredient. It is rendered rather than fresh, but the species source is still clearly identified. It reads as an upper-tier protein source.

Available ingredient listIn disclosed order
Deboned Beef — Primary positive ingredientsPork and Bone Meal — Caution ingredientsSalmon Meal — Support positive ingredientsSweet Potatoes — Neutral ingredientsPotatoes — Neutral ingredientsPeas — Caution ingredientsPea Protein — High-caution ingredientsNatural Flavor — Support positive ingredientsPork Fat — Neutral ingredientsPotato Protein — High-caution ingredientsLamb — Primary positive ingredientsSunflower Oil — Neutral ingredientsBeef Liver — Primary positive ingredientsFlaxseed — Neutral ingredientsTapioca — Neutral ingredientsDried Yeast — Neutral ingredientsPotassium Chloride — Support positive ingredientsSalt — Neutral ingredientsCholine Chloride — Support positive ingredientsMinerals (Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Calcium Iodate) — Support positive ingredientsDL-Methionine — Neutral ingredientsTaurine — Support positive ingredientsMixed Tocopherols for freshness — Neutral ingredientsVitamins (Vitamin E Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Niacin, Thiamine Mononitrate, Riboflavin Supplement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Folic Acid, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Complex, Biotin, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Vitamin D3 Supplement) — Support positive ingredients
Primary positive ingredientsSupport positive ingredientsAlternative proteinNeutral ingredientsCaution ingredientsHigh-caution ingredients
Protein sourceIngredient guide

Unclear animal protein source

Animal protein · Deboned Beef (#1), Pork and Bone Meal (#2), Salmon Meal (#3), Lamb (#11), Beef Liver (#13)

Plant protein · Peas (#6), Pea Protein (#7), Potato Protein (#10)

Animal-based does not always mean clearly sourced.

Unspecified animal protein is read conservatively.

Included support ingredientsNutrient guide
TaurineHeart support ingredientOmega-3Skin and joint support ingredientOmega-6Skin and coat support ingredientGlucosamineJoint support ingredientChondroitinJoint support ingredient

03. CHOOSING FOR YOUR DOG

What to consider before feeding

Deboned Beef, Pork and Bone Meal supply animal protein at the start of the ingredient list. Sweet Potatoes, Potatoes supply carbohydrate energy. The recipe combines animal protein sources with carbohydrate sources.

Pea Protein, Potato Protein supplement plant protein further down the list, after the first three ingredients. The crude-protein figure includes both animal and plant contributions.

Across the registered ingredients, multiple protein sources appear, including beef, pork, salmon, lamb. If a protein must be excluded, any of these sources can change the decision; the first ingredient alone does not make this a single-protein diet.

What works well in this food

  • The first ingredient is a species-named fresh meat.
  • Crude protein is on the higher side.
  • Top ingredients do not show a prominent FDA-investigated non-hereditary DCM ingredient profile.

Check before feeding

  • Plant proteins can lift crude protein on the label, but the real animal-protein share still needs a closer check.
  • Less specific rendered animal ingredients sit high in the recipe, so ingredient quality still needs a more cautious read.
  • Public data is usable, but not at the highest-trust tier.

When this food fits your dog

Among foods made the same way, protein is higher, fat is higher, and calorie density is typical. This combination is worth comparing when protein matters but a higher-calorie food is not the aim. High protein alone does not make it an active-dog-only food; judge weight changes against total daily calories. Fat is higher even though calories are not, so any fat restriction needs a separate assessment.

Consider it first when

  • Public-data-first comparison
  • Baseline shortlist building
  • Conservative first-pass screening

Choose another food first when

  • You want a stronger ingredient-quality story first
  • You need dog-specific fit instead of public-review screening

Plant-protein concentration remains the clearest trade-off here.

04. COMPARE FOODS

Smart beef / pork alternatives

Exact protein-type matches come first, then close protein-family matches fill the comparison.

05. MANUFACTURING & DISCLOSURE

Manufacturer background & public information

Merrick background

Founded in 1988 in the United States.

Disclosure confidence C1

Detailed nutrition is visible, but not at a product-level traceability standard.

Recall information

This brand has multiple confirmed recall events, with the most recent public case here in 2018.

May 12, 2026

Final word

Interpret this for my dog

The food-first public score is only the starting point. Once your dog’s activity, weight goals, life stage, and health status are applied, the recommendation order and interpretation can change.

Treat this review as an early screen. If the food stays interesting, verify it again with your dog-specific context before acting.