Label analysisGrade DKibble (Extruded)

Merrick

Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Great Plains Red Beef Lamb

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. I would use it for active dogs that suit mixed meats, not for fat-sensitive or protein-restricted feeding.

Logic-based verdict

This food can stay in comparison, but ingredient quality still needs a more conservative read.

Manufacturer-independentPublic-data basedIngredients · nutrition · safety

Protein source

Ingredient 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 ingredients

Nutrient guide

Taurine

Heart support ingredient

Omega-3

Skin and joint support ingredient

Omega-6

Skin and coat support ingredient

Glucosamine

Joint support ingredient

Chondroitin

Joint support ingredient

View full ingredients
Needs context

Ingredient grade

C

Grade C

Top ingredient profile

Deboned Beef
Pork and Bone Meal
Salmon Meal
Fresh-meat leadPlant booster present
Crude protein35%
Crude protein35%
Crude fat17%
Other 48%

Protein position, fat position, and calorie density position are relative to foods in the same processing type cohort.

biotechProtein position
Higher
query_statsFat position
Higher
local_fire_departmentCalorie density
Typical

There is enough public data to keep this food in comparison, but the top ingredient structure does not support a stronger positive claim yet.

Nutritional strengths

  • 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.

What still needs work

  • 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.

Alternative foods

Smart beef / pork alternatives

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

161 alternativesKibble (Extruded) · protein type/family cohort

Other recipes from the same brand

Other recipes from the same brand with a different purpose or feeding target.

Merrick

Healthy Grains Adult Beef Brown Rice

Adult · All sizes

Plant-protein boosted

Label score

4.0/5

Grade B

Merrick

Healthy Grains Healthy Weight Chicken Brown Rice

Adult · All sizes

Label score

3.0/5

Grade C

Merrick

Lil Plates Small Breed Chicken Sweet Potato

Adult · Small breed

Label score

3.0/5

Grade C

Merrick

Grain Free Healthy Weight

Adult · All sizes

Label score

3.0/5

Grade C

Brand context

Brand background availableRecall history confirmed

Founded in 1988 in the United States. This brand has multiple confirmed recall events, with the most recent public case here in 2018.

Ingredient analysis

The top ingredients are still usable, but this is the part to inspect more carefully before calling the recipe a clear strength.

restaurantIngredient Quality Analysis

C3/6
Ingredient Grade
Mixed
1Deboned Beef
Fresh Meat · Top
2Pork and Bone Meal
Generic Meal · Lower
3Salmon Meal
Named Meal · Upper

Ingredient Analysis Comments

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

Full collected ingredient list

24 ingredients
Deboned BeefPork and Bone MealSalmon MealSweet PotatoesPotatoesPeasPea ProteinNatural FlavorPork FatPotato ProteinLambSunflower OilBeef LiverFlaxseedTapiocaDried YeastPotassium ChlorideSaltCholine ChlorideMinerals (Zinc Amino Acid Complex, Iron Amino Acid Complex, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Amino Acid Complex, Copper Amino Acid Complex, Calcium Iodate)DL-MethionineTaurineMixed Tocopherols for freshnessVitamins (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)
Primary positive ingredients
Support positive ingredients
Alternative protein
Neutral ingredients
Caution ingredients
High-caution ingredients

Why processed plant proteins are reviewed cautiously

Ingredient lists are ordered by input weight, not protein contribution. Fresh meat 100g and Soybean Meal 50g can both contribute about 20g of protein, and Pea Protein can deliver a similar amount at around 30g. So these ingredients can materially lift crude protein even outside the top three. The review treats processed plant-protein boosters cautiously because they can weaken the animal-protein-centered profile most guardians expect from a high-protein food.

Why did the base review land here?

Ingredient qualityNutrient disclosure levelManufacturing & trust

This review score combines ingredient composition, nutrient disclosure, manufacturing trust, and core nutrient caution signals.

Nutrient disclosure

Partial disclosure

Core guaranteed analysis is usable, but deeper rows still need a more cautious read.

Safety verification

No fails

No major red flag jumps out first, though undisclosed rows still define the limits of this safety read.

Public data trust (ETF)

C1 tier

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

Final word

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

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