Our Verdict
Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain dry cat food receives the Cat Food Advisor rating, 4 stars
The level of protein across the range is good and all recipes list high quality meat sources as their first ingredient. Moisture content is low which is something to consider when selecting the right recipe for your cat.
Pros
- Real animal proteins in each recipe
- Easily digestible source of vitamins
Cons
- Relatively expensive
- Low in moisture
Each recipe includes its AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.
The Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain product line includes three cat foods.
| Product line | Rating | AAFCO |
|---|---|---|
| Chicken & Pomegranate Adult recipe | 4 | M |
| Lamb & Blueberry Adult recipe | 4 | M |
| Chicken & Pomegranate Neutered Adult recipe | 4 | M |
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Recipe and Label Analysis
Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate recipe was selected to represent the other products in the line for a detailed recipe and nutrient analysis.
Label and nutrient data below are calculated using dry matter basis.
Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate recipe
Estimated Dry Matter Nutrient Content
Protein
Fat
CarbsCarbohydrates
Boneless chicken, dehydrated chicken protein, spelt, oats, dried eggs, herring, dehydrated herring protein, dried beet pulp, chicken fat, fish oil (from herring), alfalfa meal, dried carrot, inulin, fructo-oligosaccharides, yeast extract (source of manno-oligo-saccharides), dried, pomegranate, dried apple, dried spinach, psyllium husks and seeds, dried sweet orange, dried blueberry, sodium chloride, dried brewers’ yeast, turmeric, aloe vera extract, vitamin A, vitamin D3, vitamin E, vitamin C, niacin, calcium d-pantothenate, vitamin B2, vitamin B6, vitamin B1, biotin, folic acid, vitamin B12, choline chloride, beta-carotene, zinc (zinc chelate of hydroxy analogue of methionine), manganese (manganese chelate of hydroxy analogue of methionine), iron (iron(ii) chelate of glycine hydrate), copper (copper chelate of hydroxy analogue of methionine, dl-methionine, taurine, l-carnitine, green tea extract, rosemary extract, tocopherol extracts from vegetable oils
Fiber (estimated dry matter content) = 5.5%
Red denotes any controversial items
Ingredients Analysis
The first ingredient is boneless chicken. 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 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.
The second ingredient is dehydrated chicken protein. Dehydrated chicken is considered a meat concentrate and contains more than four times as much protein as fresh chicken.
The third ingredient is spelt oats, which is a species of wheat that’s been cultivated since 5000 BC. Yet because it requires the additional step of husk removal prior to milling, spelt is typically more costly than modern wheat.
However, aside from its energy content, this unique grain is of only modest nutritional value to a cat.
The fourth ingredient is dried eggs, a dehydrated powder made from shell-free eggs. Eggs are easy to digest and have an exceptionally high biological value.
The fifth ingredient is herring. Herring is a fatty marine fish naturally high in protein as well as omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every cat to sustain life.
The sixth ingredient is dehydrated herring protein. Because it is considered a meat concentrate, dried herring contains almost 300% more protein than fresh fish itself.
The seventh ingredient is dried beet pulp. Beet pulp is a controversial ingredient, a high fiber by-product of sugar beet processing.
Some denounce beet pulp as an inexpensive filler while others cite its outstanding intestinal health and blood sugar benefits.
We only call your attention here to the controversy and believe the inclusion of beet pulp in reasonable amounts in most cat foods is entirely acceptable.
The eighth ingredient is chicken fat. Chicken fat is obtained from rendering chicken, a process similar to making soup in which the fat itself is skimmed from the surface of the liquid.
Chicken fat is high in linoleic acid, an omega-6 fatty acid essential for life. Although it doesn’t sound very appetizing, chicken fat is actually a quality ingredient.
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 food also contains chelated minerals that have been chemically attached to protein. This makes them easier to absorb. Chelated minerals are usually found in better cat foods.
Recipe star rating 4
Nutrient Analysis
Based on its ingredients alone, Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain Chicken & Pomegranate recipe looks like an above-average dry product.
The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 41.3%, a fat level of 10.9% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 39.8%.
As a group, the brand features a near average protein content of 39.9% and above-average fat level of 18.1%. Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 34% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 46%.
This means this Farmina N&D Ancestral Grain range contains near average protein, near average carbohydrate, higher than average fat, when compared to typical dry cat food.
Final Word
This range of grain recipes offer an easily digestible source of vitamins and energy. Each recipe is high in good quality protein from animal sources, perfect for adult cats.
Has Farmina cat food been recalled in the past?
No. To the best of our knowledge, Farmina cat foods has never had a product recall.
You can view a complete list of all cat food recalls since 2021 here.
To stay on top of any cat food product recalls, sign up for our free email alerts, here.
About
Francesco Russo founded the Russo Mangimi company in 1965 specializing in animal nutrition. In 1999, the company’s focus shifted to the pet food industry with a new perspective of developing foods based on scientific studies focused on the well-being of pets.
The Mangimi company started to collaborate with Farmina, an English company specializing in food research and formulation.
Mangima manufacturing facilities are based in Europe and Farmina foods are mostly sourced from Italy. Some ingredients are sourced from Europe and New Zealand.
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Article reviewed by
Veterinarian
Dr Georgia Jeremiah has a first class honors degree in comparative pathology with field experience in anatomic and clinical pathology, studying disease processes in a multitude of species.
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