Choosing between Whole Earth Farms vs Merrick may be confusing because these two brands actually come from the same company. Yes, Whole Earth Farms is actually owned by the Merrick company. So, what is actually the difference between these two lines? Which one is better for your dog? Continue reading below to find out the answer!
What we will discuss in this article include:
– The ingredient quality of Whole Earth Farms vs Merrick
– The comparison of the nutrition of the two brands
– The available recipes on each brand
– The history of recalls on each brand
– Which dog food that is generally more recommended
Ingredients
First of all, let’s compare the ingredient quality of these two brands of dog food. According to the company, both Whole Earth Farms and Merrick use the same wholesome ingredients. However, there are indeed a few subtle differences that make the recipes different. See also: Canidae vs Fromm Dog Food.
Whole Earth Farms seems to come with a more balanced formula. There are meat-based ingredients, but there are also some vegetables. The ingredients that come in the highest amounts are pork meal, dried potato, peas, sweet potato, pork fat, natural flavor, beef, and lamb. There are also, in smaller amounts, some alfalfa meal, salmon oil, dried fermentation products, and chelated minerals.
These are good quality ingredients. The meat ingredients are great, as they provide decent protein levels. Alfalfa meal provides plant protein and fiber. Salmon oil is rich in EPA and DHA, while the dried fermentation products are good for the digestion system. The chelated minerals are minerals that are attached to protein molecules to allow easy absorption.
Merrick also uses good ingredients. The ones that come in the highest amounts are duck, turkey meal, salmon meal, sweet potato, peas, potato, chicken, natural flavor, and lamb meal. These are mostly good ingredients. Other notable ingredients are alfalfa, dried fermentation products, chelated minerals, and potato protein.
Although potato protein can have more than 80% protein, it is not as good as meat. The protein types contained in meat are more beneficial for dogs. Merrick also uses some ingredients like garlic, canola oil, meaty femur bone, and powdered cellulose, which are not really good for dogs.
Protein
Protein is extremely important for your dog. It is the primary source of energy. It also provides amino acids that are needed for the growth and recovery of bodily tissues and for normal bodily functions. If your dog doesn’t get sufficient protein, the dog may get serious health problems.
The dry dog food of Whole Earth Farms contains 29% crude protein. Meanwhile, the wet dog food of Whole Earth Farms contains 41.9% crude protein. These are good amounts.
However, Merrick generally provides higher protein levels. The dry dog food of Merrick contains 37.1% crude protein, while the wet dog food of Merrick contains 44% crude protein. The difference, especially between the dry dog foods of the two brands, is quite significant. So, Merrick can fulfill your dog’s protein requirement more effectively and support the growth and health better.
Fat
Fat is also an important nutrient for your dog. Fat is also a source of energy. It is also used in some bodily functions, such as for producing prostaglandins, which are important for relieving inflammation, and improving skin and coat health. Fat can also improve the dog food’s palatability.
This time, the differences are not as dramatic. The dry dog food of Whole Earth Farms provides 13.9% crude fat. The wet dog food provides 20.8% crude fat.
Meanwhile, the dry dog food of Merrick provides 16.5% crude fat. It has a higher fat content. The wet dog food provides 19.8% crude fat, which means that the fat content is little bit lower.
So, we can say that Whole Earth Farms’s dry dog foods usually provide less fat than Merrick’s dry dog foods. But the difference will not give significant effects. The wet dog foods are more-or-less similar in terms of fat.
Fiber
Fiber is beneficial for improving and maintaining the digestive health. Fiber can also fill the digestive tract so that your dog won’t get hungry again too quickly. So, a good amount of fiber can save your dog from getting fat and overweight.
Nevertheless, Whole Earth Farms vs Merrick are more-or-less similar in terms of fiber levels. Both brands use good fiber ingredients.
The dry dog food of Whole Earth Farms contains 5.4% crude fiber, while the wet dog food contains 6.8% crude fiber. On the other hand, the dry dog food of Merrick contains 4.1% crude fiber, while its wet dog food contains about 8.7% crude fiber.
Available Recipes
Whole Earth Farms is available in many recipes. Most of them are designed for adult dogs. However, there are also some recipes that are suitable for puppies. Some of the most popular recipes include:
– Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Healthy Weight Adult
– Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Puppy All Breeds
– Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Turkey and Duck
– Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Salmon and Whitefish
– Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Pork, Beef, and Lamb
– Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Chicken and Turkey
– Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Small Breed
– Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Small Breed Salmon and Whitefish
– Whole Earth Farms Grain Free Small Breed Pork, Beef, and Lamb
Merrick is also available in a wide range of recipes. Similarly, most recipes are for adult dogs, but there are also recipes for puppies and seniors. Some popular recipes are:
– Merrick Grain Free Real Texas Beef and Sweet Potato
– Merrick Grain Free Real Turkey and Sweet Potato
– Merrick Grain Free Real Duck and Sweet Potato
– Merrick Grain Free Real Lamb and Sweet Potato
– Merrick Grain Free Real Rabbit and Chickpeas
– Merrick Grain Free Real Venison and Chickpeas
– Merrick Grain Free Puppy Real Chicken and Sweet Potato
– Merrick Grain Free Puppy Texas Beef and Sweet Potato
– Merrick Grain Free Senior Real Chicken and Sweet Potato
– Merrick Grain Free Healthy Weight
History
Whole Earth Farms is indeed a relatively new brand, at least if we compare it to Merrick. But it is still a good thing that Whole Earth Farms hasn’t been recalled for any issue. So, we can assume that the quality control is good.
Merrick has gone through six recalls. The first five recalls were in 2010 and 2011, and are related to salmonella contamination. The last recall was in May 2018 because of increased levels of beef thyroid hormone.
Whole Earth Farms vs Merrick
| Whole Earth Farms | Merrick |
|---|---|
| - Enriched with salmon oil, which provides EPA and DHA | - Enriched with potato protein |
| - Lower protein levels | - Higher protein levels |
| - Slightly lower fat levels | - Slightly higher fat levels |
| - Hasn’t been recalled | - Has been recalled 6 times in 2010, 2011, and once in 2018 |
Conclusion
In general, Whole Earth Farms is more recommended. This brand has more balanced nutrients. The quality control seems to be better because it hasn’t been recalled because of any issue so far.