Open Farm (Freeze-Dried Raw) Review

Open Farm Freeze Dried Raw product range is made of four recipes which all receive the Cat Food Advisor rating, 5 stars.

This range of food lists quality animal meat as the first ingredient which means the protein content is high across all recipes.  Carbohydrates are very low and vitamins have been added to provide a well balanced diet.

The table below shows each recipe in the range including our rating and the AAFCO nutrient profile: Growth (kitten), Maintenance (adult), All Life Stages, Supplemental or Unspecified.

Recipe and Label Analysis

Open Farm Surf & Turf Freeze Dried Raw Cat Food 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.

Ingredients Analysis

The first ingredient is salmon.  Salmon is an oily marine and freshwater fish not only high in protein but also omega 3 fatty acids, essential oils needed by every cat to sustain life.

The second ingredient is beef. Beef is defined as “the clean flesh derived from slaughtered cattle” and includes skeletal muscle or the muscle tissues of the tongue, diaphragm, heart or esophagus. ¹

Beef is naturally rich in all 11 essential amino acids required by a cat to sustain life.

The third ingredient is beef liver, an organ meat sourced from a named animal and thus considered a beneficial component.

The fourth ingredient is beef heart, although this doesn’t sound very appetizing to us humans, heart tissue is pure muscle — all meat.  It’s naturally rich in quality protein, minerals and complex B vitamins, too.

The fifth ingredient is beef bone, which is an excellent source of natural calcium.

The sixth ingredient is montmorillonite clay, a naturally occurring compound rich in many trace minerals. Montmorillonite has been approved for use in USDA Organic Certified products.

Reported benefits include the binding of certain mold-based toxins and even controlling diarrhea and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

The seventh ingredient is dicalcium phosphate, likely used here as a dietary calcium supplement.

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.

However, this food contains chelated minerals, 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 5.

Nutrient Analysis

Based on its ingredients alone, the Open Farm Surf & Turf Freeze Dried Raw Cat Food recipe looks like an above-average freeze dried raw product.

The dashboard displays a dry matter protein reading of 47.4%, a fat level of 35.8% and an estimated carbohydrate level of 8.8%.

As a group, the brand features an above-average protein content of 47.4% and an above-average fat level of 35.8%.  Together these figures suggest a carbohydrate content of 8.8% for the overall product line, alongside a fat to protein ratio of 75%.

This means this Open Farm Freeze Dried Raw range contains higher than average protein, lower than average carbohydrate and higher than average fat, when compared to typical freeze-dried raw cat food.

Has Open Farm cat food been recalled in the past?

No.  Open Farm cat food has no known history of product recalls.

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

In 2014, Jacqueline Prehogan founded Open Farm Pet Foods.  The cat food arm of the operation has its headquarters in Canada, and the products are developed and formulated in Canada. However, production takes place over the border in the state of Minnesota. 

The company is focused on using locally sourced ingredients, and the location of the plant allows easy access to farms that meet their strict animal welfare and quality standards.