As an animal lover and pet owner, I‘m always on the lookout for high quality foods that can provide optimal nutrition for dogs. When I heard about actress Katherine Heigl‘s new pet food brand Badlands Ranch, I was intrigued but also skeptical.
In this in-depth critical review, I‘ll analyze the pros and cons of Badlands Ranch dog food, assess their sourcing and ingredients, and ultimately determine if these superfood products live up to their claims.
The Story Behind Badlands Ranch
Badlands Ranch was founded in 2021 by celebrity and animal rights activist Katherine Heigl. The brand gets its name from Heigl‘s own family ranch in Utah where they focus on animal rescue efforts.
Heigl‘s passion for animals runs deep. In addition to the ranch work, her family also runs the Jason Debus Heigl Foundation which is dedicated to ending animal cruelty worldwide. The creation of the Badlands Ranch pet food line is an extension of her advocacy work, aiming to deliver optimal nutrition to dogs while also supporting animals in need.
While celebrity-backed products sometimes fall short on quality, Heigl seems genuinely invested in creating healthy pet food recipes packed with ethical ingredients. But the proof is in the pudding – or kibble as it may be! Let‘s analyze the two Badlands Ranch offerings next.
Assessing the Badlands Ranch Product Line
Badlands Ranch currently offers two main products:
Superfood Complete – Their signature air-dried dog food meant to provide complete and balanced daily nutrition.
Superfood Bites – A freeze-dried raw beef liver treat.
I‘ll do a deep dive on each formula next.
Superfood Complete Dog Food Review
According to Badlands Ranch, Superfood Complete contains 34 hand-selected ingredients vital to a dog‘s health. This includes animal proteins like beef, beef liver, beef heart, and wild salmon as well as veggie and fruits like broccoli, sweet potato, pumpkin, and carrot.
The formula also contains supplemental vitamins/minerals, seeds like chia and flax, and functional mushrooms like lion‘s mane.
Sourcing of Ingredients
All of the meat and fish ingredients are advertised as coming from humane / free range / grass fed sources. However there are no certifications like American Humane to verify these claims.
As a discerning pet owner, I would want to know more about where exactly Badlands sources their beef, salmon, liver etc. There‘s also no mention of whether the fruits/veggies are organic.
Testing & Safety Protocols
On the plus side, all ingredients and final food products are tested for purity and safety. Badlands Ranch provides batch testing certificates upon request.
Per AAFCO guidelines, feeding trials were also conducted to substantiate the nutritional adequacy statement claiming complete & balanced nutrition for all life stages.
Nutritional Analysis
The guaranteed analysis shows 30% minimum crude protein, 14% minimum crude fat, and 5% maximum crude fiber. These meet general recommendations for high quality dog foods.
There are also good levels of omega fatty acids at 1.4% minimum thanks to ingredients like salmon and flax seed. Omega fats help reduce inflammation and provide healthy skin/coat.
Vitamins like A, B complex, D3 and minerals like iron, copper, zinc are included although amounts will vary slightly per batch depending on natural ingredient variability.
One area I‘d love to see improved is specifying exact quantities for each vitamin/mineral instead of just guaranteeing their presence. This would allow better comparison to other brands.
Ingredient Issues
Potential issues to note – the formula does contain canola oil which some pet owners choose to avoid. It also includes specialty ingredients like lion‘s mane mushroom whose benefits are still being researched. While these may provide nutritional value, the cost of including them likely contributes to the high price tag.
Feeding Guidelines
Badlands Ranch provides a feeding chart on their site with recommended portions based on your dog‘s weight. This ensures your dog gets adequate calories and nutrition.
For example, a 50 lb dog would eat around 2 cups per day while a 90 lb dog would be closer to 4 cups. One 24 oz bag would last about 3 days for a 50 lb dog.
Make sure to account for your dog‘s activity level and adjust as needed to maintain an ideal body condition.
Superfood Bites Review
The Superfood Bites are a simpler, more straight-forward product – made of just a single ingredient, freeze-dried raw beef liver.
Beef liver is considered a nutrient-dense superfood for dogs thanks to its naturally high protein and vitamin content. By freeze-drying the liver instead of cooking it, more of those nutrients are preserved.
Freeze-drying also gives the treats a crispy, meaty texture that dogs seem to love!
The only downside is the treats are fairly high in calories, with nearly 600 kcals per cup. Be mindful of portion size if your dog tends to gain weight easily or isn‘t very active.
How Does Air-Drying vs Baking Impact Quality?
One key calling card for Badlands Ranch is their use of air-drying technology to create the Superfood Complete kibble instead of the high heat extrusion process used for most dry dog foods.
Air drying allows meats, fruits and vegetables to retain more vitamins, antioxidants and enzymes compared to baking. High temperatures can damage or degrade these beneficial compounds.
The one drawback is that air-dried pet foods have a shorter shelf life compared to baked kibble – just 12 months for Badlands Ranch products after opening.
So while it ultimately comes at a higher cost, air-drying does result in superior nutrition.
Customer Reviews & Ratings Analysis
Analyzing feedback from real customers is crucial to evaluating any pet food brand. I combed through reviews on the Badlands Ranch site, TrustPilot, BBB and independent pet websites.
The consensus is overwhelmingly positive with most reviews giving 5 stars. Both the Superfood Complete and Superfood Bites have received tremendous praise for their quality and benefits.
Some standout remarks from pet owners include:
- "This is the only food one of my picky dogs will eat"
- "I‘ve noticed improvements in energy, skin, coat and digestion"
- "The treats are the perfect size for training"
- "My older dog seems like a puppy again after switching foods"
As expected, a few negative reviews cite the pricing being too steep. But the majority agree the difference in nutrients and results make it worthwhile.
Pros & Cons Breakdown
Based on my in-depth analysis, here are the main pros and cons of the Badlands Ranch pet food brand:
PROS
- Founded by a genuine animal welfare advocate
- No artificial preservatives or fillers
- Positive feedback from most pet owners
- Air-dried process preserves more nutrients
- Humanely raised animal proteins
- Wholesome fruits, veggies & supplements
- Lab testing ensures purity & safety
- Complete & balanced per AAFCO
CONS
- Premium pricing (~$2 per day cost)
- No clear sourcing details or certifications
- Shorter shelf life after opening
- Canola oil is controversial
- No veterinary nutritionists on team
The Verdict: Worth the Investment?
At the end of the day, what matters most is – will your dog eat this food and does it provide tangible health improvements without any risks or side effects?
The answer according to hundreds of positive reviews is a resounding yes. Badlands Ranch checks the boxes when it comes to ingredients, processing methods, safety, and nutrition.
The only real barrier to switching is the above average pricing. But pet owners stand by the value, with dogs loving the real food taste and owners noticing shinier coats, better digestion, healthier skin and increased energy when transitioning to Badlands Ranch.
As with any dramatic food change, make sure to transition slowly mixing increasing amounts of Badlands Ranch kibble with your dog‘s current brand over 7-10 days. This gives their digestive system time to adjust.
All in all, I can confidently recommend Badlands Ranch to any pet owner seeking premium nutrition. And you can feel good knowing your purchase also gives back to animals in need!
