Known for exclusively using ocean-caught fish in their recipes, Open Farm pet food products for dogs and cats are full of high-quality ingredients that any pet owner would be happy to give to their animals at mealtimes. They seem to go the extra mile to ensure that their pet food is exemplary, even employing a team of animal nutritionists and food manufacturing experts to help produce their recipes and create unique formulas. In this guide, we look at several of Open Farm's products, focusing on food that dog owners would be interested in switching to.
Review of 5 Open Farm Dog Food Recipes
1 Open Farm Homestead Turkey & Chicken Recipe
- Brand: Open Farm
- Allergens: Chicken, Potatoes, Lentils, Peas, Carrots
- First 5 ingredients: Turkey, Chicken, Ocean Whitefish Meal, Russet Potatoes, Chickpeas, Green Lentils
- Primary Proteins: Turkey, Chicken
- Calories: 436 kcal/cup
- Flavor: Turkey and Chicken
- Type: Dry dog food
- Life Stage: All life stages
Homestead Turkey and Chicken is a dry dog food crafted with humanely and sustainably sourced ingredients, designed to ensure that your pet is getting the exact nutrients they need in every meal. Not only is Open Farm’s packaging extremely welcoming, but it’s also full of human-grade ingredients that are loaded with protein, probiotic fiber, and essential vitamins and minerals.
The great thing about this recipe is the inclusion of natural superfoods like coconut oil and pumpkin. Animal nutrition is crucial, particularly when you’re the only source of food that your pets have. In a situation where you own pets, animal welfare relies entirely on you, and your pet’s health will largely be down to your own actions. Thankfully, Open Farm kibble like this Homestead Turkey and Chicken recipe is a great alternative to the regular pet store kibble that you might be using in your dog’s diet.
Humanely Raised Turkey, Humanely Raised Chicken, Ocean Whitefish Meal, Russet Potatoes, Garbanzo Beans (Chickpeas), Green Lentils, Field Peas, Coconut Oil (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Ocean Menhaden Fish Meal, Tomato, Apples, Pumpkin, Natural Flavour, Flaxseed, Sun Cured Alfalfa, Carrots, Chicory Root, Salmon Oil, Salt, Potassium Chloride, Choline Chloride, Mixed Tocopherols (a natural preservative), Vitamin E Supplement, Calcium Pantothenate, Niacin Supplement, Vitamin A Supplement, Riboflavin Supplement, Vitamin D3 Supplement, Vitamin B12 Supplement, Thiamine Mononitrate, Folic Acid, Zinc Proteinate, Calcium Carbonate, Iron Proteinate, Copper Proteinate, Manganese Proteinate, selenium, Yeast, Calcium Iodate, Rosemary Extract, Taurine, Cinnamon, Turmeric, Dicalcium Phosphate
- High animal protein percentage
- Contains Omega-3 fatty acids
- No GMO ingredients
- Contains several allergens
- Not suitable for dogs with poultry allergies
2 Open Farm Wild-Caught Salmon & Ancient Grains Recipe
- Brand: Open Farm
- Allergens: None
- First 5 ingredients: Salmon, Oats, Ocean Whitefish Meal, Sorghum, Quinoa
- Primary Proteins: Salmon
- Calories: 424 kcal/cup
- Flavor: Salmon
- Type: Dry dog food
- Life Stage: All life stages
Open Farm uses only Ocean Wise certified sustainable fishing practices, so dog owners can be sure that the wild-caught salmon in this Open Farm kibble hasn’t been caught in a way that has harmed the environment. Beyond this, the ancient grains that are used in their Wild-Caught Salmon and Ancient Grains recipe are a mix of wholesome ancient grains such as gluten-free steel-cut oats, quinoa, brown rice, and sorghum. The blend is backed by Open Farm pet food scientists, who have ensured that the mix is designed for wellness and helps perfect this healthy dog food.
Open Farm understands that fresh dog food needs to meet the needs of the dogs that are eating it. You can trace all of their ingredients from their farm and manufacturing facility all the way to your dog’s food bowl, and this is one of the selling points of the brand. There are so few pet food brands out there that are fully traceable, and for dogs with allergies or for pet owners who have a specific set of environmental concerns and ethics, this is incredibly important. Open Farm’s food is food that you can trust.
- Wholesome ancient grains full of nutrients
- Contains omega-3 fatty acids
- No common allergens
- Only suitable for dogs on a gluten-free diet
- Contains a fish meal product
3 Open Farm Surf & Turf Freeze Dried Raw Dog Food
- Brand: Open Farm
- Allergens: Beef, Carrots, Squash
- First 5 ingredients: Beef, Beef Hearts, Wild Pacific Salmon, Beef Kidneys, Beef Liver
- Primary Proteins: Beef, Salmon
- Calories: 233 kcal/cup
- Flavor: Beef and Salmon
- Type: Freeze-dried raw dog food topper
- Life Stage: All life stages
Another excellent Open Farm product for our dog food review, we’d like to showcase the Surf and Turf Recipe. Unlike the other two recipes that we’ve explored so far, Surf and Turf is a raw freeze-dried recipe that is designed to be used as a food topper or fed to your dog by itself. Open Farm believes in responsibly sourced meat, which is why their recipes are made with USA grass-fed beef and pure pacific salmon, no by-products included. There are no meat or fish meal products in the Surf and Turf Recipe, either, just various meats, vegetables, fruits, and seeds, plus a few extra ingredients for added goodness. These extra ingredients include non-GMO coconut oil, Vitamin D3 supplement, and other vitamins and minerals.
Add to Open Farm kibble products to make your dog’s meal really shine, or use as a quick dog treat when you have nothing else on-hand. There’s only goodness in this meal topper, ensuring that your pup is getting all of the nutrients they need with Open Farm’s full coverage nutrition.
- Can be used as a topper or by itself
- Responsibly sourced meat
- Nutritious
- Contains common allergens
- Contains ground bone
4 Open Farm Homestead Turkey Rustic Stew
- Brand: Open Farm
- Allergens: Carrots, Beans, Lentils
- First 5 ingredients: Turkey, Turkey Bone Broth, Pumpkin, Carrots, Beans
- Primary Proteins: Turkey
- Calories: 363 kcal per 354 gram carton
- Flavor: Turkey
- Type: Meal topper
- Life Stage: All life stages
Not quite a wet dog food product and not quite a dog food topper, this stew recipe from Open Farm lies somewhere between the two. It’s recommended that you either serve the Homestead Turkey Rustic Stew by itself or add it to the top of Open Farm kibble products for a more complete meal. Whichever way you decide to serve it, be sure to balance the calories and not overfeed your dog during the day. It can be difficult to know how much is too much when you’re using topper products because you have to adjust the feeding guides yourself instead of relying on them to tell you how much food your dog needs.
The great thing about this rustic stew wet food is that dogs who have trouble chewing kibble can enjoy the great taste of turkey without needing to put their jaw through a workout. Give your pup a single protein option and reduce the possibility of upsetting their stomach through the use of needless ingredients. Open Farm’s website even has a satisfaction guarantee!
- Can be used by itself
- Great as a dry food topper
- Single protein source
- Contains common allergens
- High calorie as a food topper
5 Open Farm Homestead Turkey Bone Broth
- Brand: Open Farm
- Allergens: Carrots
- First 5 ingredients: Turkey Bone Broth, Carrots, Pumpkin, Parsley, Tumeric
- Primary Proteins: Turkey Bone
- Calories: 2.25 kcal/tbsp
- Flavor: Turkey
- Type: Meal topper
- Life Stage: All life stages
With just six ingredients, this wholesome Turkey Bone Broth product from Open Farm is the perfect thing to add to your dog’s daily diet without accidentally upping their calorie intake too much. The Homestead Turkey Bone Broth is designed to be fed to your dog just two tablespoons at a time, once a day. It can be served cold or warm, but should not be heated until it’s hot so that your pup won’t burn their mouth.
This bone broth is an excellent source of collagen, which can help support your dog’s digestive system, immune system, and keep their skin and coat healthy. This particular Open Farm product is also suitable for use on top of dry or wet cat food, which is great for multi-pet households.
Derived from the slow simmering of turkey bones, a quality source of nutrients including collagen – which is composed of proline, lysine, and glycine, nutrients which has been known to support healthy joints and skin. Glycine plays a role in certain metabolic functions.
- Low calorie
- Only a small amount is needed each day
- Suitable for cats and dogs
- Contains a common allergen
- Not suitable for pets with poultry allergies
Is Open Farm a Good Dog Food?
If you’re looking for ethically sourced dog food with fully traceable ingredients, then Open Farm could be what you’re looking for. From gently cooked food to freeze-dried raw food, this brand carries everything you need for your dog to have a full and healthy diet.
There are, of course, a few allergens spread across the range, but that’s the same with every dog food brand out there. It’s impractical for brands to avoid all allergens because there are so many potential allergies for canines. The best way to avoid feeding your pup a food they might be allergic to is to check the ingredients for anything they’ve reacted to before. Despite the common allergens, Open Farm is a nutritionally sound brand, bringing dog treats and fresh dog food to your pup with much love and care.
The Short History of Open Farm Company
Open Farm was created around its owner’s want to provide high-quality food for their rescue dog. Jacqueline, along with her husband and brother-in-law, decided to explore the possibilities of developing their pet food. This, after years of research, led to the creation of Open Farm.
Their goal was to completely rethink how pet food was made, changing what it contained and making it more wholesome and nutritionally beneficial; without unnecessary fillers and additives. That meant sourcing high-quality meats, fruits, and vegetables, supporting local farmers who believed in treating their livestock right, and being completely transparent as a company.
The idea behind Open Farm is a pet food brand that is good for you, your pet, and the environment.
Where is Open Farm Dog Food Made?
Open Farm is a Canadian company headquartered in Toronto, Ontario. All of the work in developing, making, and distributing their recipes happens in Canada. However, their manufacturing facility is located in Minnesota in the United States, which facilitates their local vegetable program and allows them access to the farms they partner with.
Where Do They Source Their Ingredients From?
Almost 40% of Open Farm’s vegetables are grown in the same town as their manufacturing facility. Where they can’t source produce from their local town, they look for the next best option – meaning that approximately 90% of their fruits and vegetables are grown locally in total. These are either grown in-state or in a neighboring state near their manufacturing facility.
They refuse to use farmed fish in their recipes because of the various issues associated with fish farming. By sourcing ocean-caught fish through sustainable methods, Open Farm can ensure that the fish used in their products have lived natural lives and consumed food free from antibiotics and artificial feed (which is commonplace in areas where fish are over-farmed to be food). In addition, the brand’s sustainable ocean-caught fish program ensures that they are sourcing the best quality fish ingredients for your pet to enjoy in their Open Farm cat and dog food products. Fish are caught using sustainable fishing practices in accordance with Ocean Wise and Seafood Watch standards, and all of their meat and fish ingredients are only gathered from audited and certified humane farms.
Product Lines – Differences and Which One You Should Choose
Open Farm’s website shows six different categories for dog food products. Open Farm’s dog food products include dry dog food, wet dog food, freeze-dried raw, gently cooked recipes, dog treats, and broths and supplements. Though many of Open Farm’s dog food products are suitable for all life stages, they also manufacture specific food for puppies.
Dry Dog Food
In the dry food category, you’ll come across Homestead recipes, which use turkey in combination with either chicken or ancient grains, as well as grass-fed beef dry dog food, and products that use their boasted wild-caught salmon.
You can find these recipes in 4, 11, and 22-pound bags.
- Catch-of-the-Season Whitefish Ancient Grain
- Farmer’s Table Pork Ancient Grain
- Grass-Fed Beef Ancient Grain
- Harvest Chicken Ancient Grain
- Homestead Turkey Ancient Grain
- Pasture-Raised Lamb Ancient Grain
- Puppy Ancient Grain
- Wild Salmon Ancient Grain
Wet Dog Food
As for wet food, ignore the chunks of meat in gravy that you often see on the shelves of your local pet store. Open Farm products only rustic stew recipes as wet dog food, using everything from chicken and salmon to pumpkin and bone broth to create delicious meals that can be used by themselves or as a meal topper.
These formulas are coming in 12, and 22-ounce options.
- Harvest Chicken
- Homestead Turkey
- Wild-Caught Salmon
- Chicken & Salmon
- Grass-Fed Beef
Freeze-Dried Raw
Freeze-dried raw takes us on another ride with high-protein freeze-dried dog food that is crafted using 85% animal protein. Let your pup chow down on ingredients such as beef livers, wild-caught salmon, and ground-up bone for an added kick to their day.
- Surf & Turf
- Grass-Fed Beef
- Harvest Chicken
- Homestead Turkey
- Farmer’s Table Pork
- Pasture-Raised Lamb
Gentle Cooked
Next, we have the Gently Cooked line, a product line that Open Farm is well-known for. This is fresh dog food, slowly cooked and full of 100% human-grade ingredients. There are four products in total, ranging from Open Farm’s famous Homestead Turkey to their Surf and Turf recipe. No cooking is involved; just serve up these gently cooked meals to your pup!
- Grass-Fed Beef
- Surf & Turf
- Homestead Turkey
- Harvest Chicken
Dog Treats
Moving on to Open Farm’s treat range, your dog is sure to be happy with any of the five products here. Forget those old treat sticks full of filler ingredients! Why not try feeding your pup some Dehydrated Beef treats or Dehydrated Chicken Treats?
- Dehydrated Cod Skins Treat
- Dehydrated Beef Treats
- Dehydrated Chicken Treats
- Dehydrated Turkey Treats
- Dehydrated Pork Treats
Broth and Supplements
Lastly, the broth and supplements product line enables dog owners to add powerful probiotics to their dog’s food or ensure that they’re getting enough collagen in their diet. Choose from three different flavors of collagen-rich bone broth, or try out a bottle of goat milk to aid digestion or relax your pup.
- Homestead Turkey
- Grass-Fed Beef
- Harvest Chicken
- Certified Humane Goat Milk Kefir
- Goat Milk Digestion Blend
- Goat Milk Relaxation Blend
- Goat Milk Antioxidant Blend
- Organic Grass-Fed Cow Milk Kefir
Which Product Line is Best?
This is a tricky question to answer, simply because each category of products from Open Farm offers different things, but all are very nutritious. If you have a dog who can’t chew well, we’d recommend the Gently Cooked line or any of the Rustic Stew wet foods that Open Farm produces. Open Farm recommends their Grass-Fed Beef rustic Stew, which dogs seem to absolutely love.
As we’ve previously mentioned, Open Farm also offers dry cat food and other cat food products.
Let’s Take a Closer Look at Ingredients
Natural Flavoring
An ingredient you’ll see across the Open Farm range, the brand has stated that their “natural flavor” ingredient is dehydrated whitefish in powder form, mixed with Vitamin E and a pinch of salt.
Bone Broth
A liquid that is made from boiling animal bones and connective tissues. The broth contains good collagen levels and is great for digestion and gut health.
Pumpkin
This vegetable is an excellent way to regulate a dog’s digestive system if they have problems with their bathroom habits. It’s also very tasty!
Turmeric
Turmeric is often used for its joint health benefits. It’s known to ease symptoms of arthritis, reduce blood clots, boost the immune system, and aid digestion.
Open Farm Dog Food Recall History
To the best of our research, Open Farm has had no recalls for its dog food products.
How Much Does it Cost?
Open Farm is a well-priced range of pet food, giving you lots of options on package sizes so you can spend what you want to spend on dog food. Here are examples of some of their popular products and the prices that go with them:
Where to Buy Open Farm Dog Food?
- Open Farm’s website
- Amazon
- Selected neighborhood pet stores
In a Nutshell, Is Open Farm a Good Choice?
Open Farm is a great choice, particularly for the environmentally-conscious dog owner who wants to do their part in avoiding bad fishing and farming practices and buying locally produced produce. Throughout our Open Farm dog food review, we’ve made sure to highlight the human way that Open Farm’s partners keep their farm animals, as well as the animal science that backs these amazing recipes. Expect non-GMO fruits and vegetables alongside your wild-caught fish and humanely raised chicken!
FAQs:
The co-founders of Open Farm are Jacqueline Prehogan and Isaac Langleben, who are a wife and husband duo, as well as Berek Beigleman, Jacqueline’s brother-in-law.
Open Farm’s meat products are not certified Organic, but the ethical treatment of their partner’s farm animals ensures that your dog is eating produce from livestock that lived a healthy life. Also, the fish used by Open Farm is caught using sustainable fishing practices
Though Open Farm’s recipes are gluten-free, they are not manufactured in a facility that caters purely to gluten-free products, as such, there may be some contamination.
Not all of Open Farm’s recipes are considered human-grade, though many of their ingredients could be. The only product line that outright states that it’s “human grade” is their Rustic Stew recipes, which can be found in their website’s wet dog food section.
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