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Open Farm Dog Food Review

8.4/10

SCORE: 8.4/10 (quality) / 6.5/10 (value in Australia)

Pawkeen editorial team | Reviewed by Hazel, BVSc | April 2026

BRAND OVERVIEW

  • Founded: 2014, Canada
  • Parent company: Independent (no major conglomerate ownership)
  • Manufacturing: North American facilities, humanely certified farms
  • AU availability: Limited — specialty pet retailers, online import retailers. Not at PetBarn or Pet Circle as of 2026.
  • Price range (AU, imported): $35–55/kg dry food
  • Product range: Dry kibble, wet canned, freeze-dried raw, RawMix (kibble + freeze-dried raw blend)
  • Recalls: No ACCC recalls in Australia. Clean US recall history.

WSAVA COMPLIANCE

  • WSAVA FRAMEWORK SCORE: 4/4 questions met
  • Q1: Does the company employ a full-time qualified nutritionist?
  • Yes — Open Farm employs veterinary nutritionists in their R&D team, documented publicly.
  • Q2: Has the food been tested using AAFCO/FEDIAF feeding trials or formulation?
  • Yes — all Open Farm formulas meet AAFCO nutritional standards. Some have undergone feeding trials.
  • Q3: Does the company own and operate its own manufacturing facilities?
  • Yes — Open Farm manufactures in their own certified North American facilities.
  • Q4: Is there a dedicated nutritional QC and quality assurance team?
  • Yes — extensive quality documentation available, lot-traceable.

Ingredient Analysis

SIGNATURE FEATURE: LOT CODE TRACEABILITY
Every Open Farm product has a lot code that can be entered on their website to see:

  • Which farm the meat came from
  • The processing facility
  • Date of manufacture
  • Quality checks performed

This is unique in the pet food industry. Most brands — including premium brands — cannot provide this level of supply chain visibility.

TOP SELLER: Open Farm Pasture-Raised Lamb Dry
Ingredients: Pasture-Raised Lamb, Whole Oats, Chickpeas, Sweet Potatoes, Lamb Meal, Lentils, Herring Oil, Sunflower Oil, Dried Egg, Probiotics…

STRENGTHS:

  • Named, traceable protein source listed first
  • Humanely certified farms
  • No artificial additives
  • Whole food ingredients throughout
  • Probiotic inclusion for gut health
  • Herring oil provides EPA/DHA omega-3

CONCERNS:

  • Grain-inclusive (oats) but high legume content — legumes have been discussed in DCM research
  • Very expensive in AU (imported pricing adds 40–60%)
  • Limited Australian distribution makes returns/exchange difficult

VERDICT

OPEN FARM IS EXCELLENT FOR:

  • Owners who prioritise supply chain transparency above price
  • Dogs with specific sensitivities requiring traceable single-source proteins
  • Owners already importing or able to buy in bulk to reduce per-kg cost
  • The RawMix product is genuinely innovative — kibble + freeze-dried raw in one bag

OPEN FARM IS NOT IDEAL FOR:

  • Budget-conscious Australian buyers — import pricing makes it difficult to justify
  • Dogs needing prescription nutrition
  • Owners wanting mainstream availability for ongoing supply

BETTER AUSTRALIAN ALTERNATIVES:

  • Orijen (comparable quality, better AU availability, slightly lower price): 9.2/10
  • Petzyo (AU-made, subscription model, good transparency): 8.5/10
  • Eureka (AU-made, air-dried premium): 9.1/10

FAQ

Is Open Farm available in Australia?

Open Farm is available in Australia through small specialty pet food importers but is not stocked at major chains (PetBarn, Pet Circle) as of April 2026. Prices are significantly higher than North American retail due to import costs.

Is Open Farm grain-free or grain-inclusive?

Open Farm offers both. Their Grain-Inclusive line uses oats and other wholegrains. Their Grain Free line uses chickpeas and lentils. We recommend the grain-inclusive line for breeds at cardiac risk (Goldens, Dobermanns, Boxers).

How does Open Farm compare to Orijen?

Both are premium Canadian brands with excellent ingredient quality and WSAVA compliance. Orijen edges Open Farm on protein content and animal ingredient percentage. Open Farm leads on supply chain transparency. In Australia, Orijen wins on availability and value.

Is Open Farm worth the price?

In North America, yes — it competes well at its price point. In Australia, the import premium makes it very expensive relative to comparable quality domestic alternatives.