FirstMate Limited Ingredient New Zealand Beef
FirstMate

Limited Ingredient New Zealand Beef

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Kibble

An independent Feed Wise evaluation of FirstMate Limited Ingredient New Zealand Beef, built from the published ingredient panel, guaranteed analysis, certifications and processing method.

Named beef meal first
Kibble
Complete and balanced (named standard)
Manufactured in Canada
Size
Not recorded
Food type
Kibble
UPC
Not recorded
Brand
FirstMate
Country
Canada
Feed Wise Score
6.1out of 10
GOOD

Complete diet: complete and balanced (aafco)

89%
Confidence
Moderate confidence

Share of scoring criteria backed by published evidence.

Product type
Complete & Balanced Food
Complete & balanced
VERIFIED
Large breed growth
NOT APPLICABLE
Standard named by source
AAFCO

Manufacturer statement: “FirstMate New Zealand Beef Meal Formula is Formulated to meet the Nutritional Guidelines Established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for Maintenance.” (source: manufacturer product page)

Protein

25%

Fat

13%

Estimated carbohydrate

38%

Processing

Extruded

Where to Buy

Expert Summary

Feed Wise considers this a workable everyday option for FirstMate Limited Ingredient New Zealand Beef, a dry kibble formula led by beef meal and chicken fat. The manufacturer publishes an AAFCO nutritional adequacy statement, so it can be fed as a complete daily diet for adult maintenance. Supporting the rating, it is manufactured in Canada and the label declares 25% crude protein.

What is actually in this food?

Beef Meal, Burbank Potato, Norkotah Potato, Dried Yeast, Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols), Tomato Pomace, Pumpkin, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Threonine, DL–Methionine, Choline Chloride, Blueberries, Cranberries, Raspberries, Calcium Propionate (a preservative), Taurine, Minerals ( Zinc Proteinate Iron Proteinate Calcium Carbonate Manganese Proteinate Copper Proteinate Selenium Yeast Calcium Iodate ), Rosemary extract

First 5 ingredients

1. Beef Meal

Tier B, high quality supportive ingredient

Named Rendered Protein

Named rendered animal meal. Concentrated named animal protein, but rendered rather than whole.

2. Burbank Potato

Tier C, moderate or neutral ingredient

Whole Carbohydrate

Whole carbohydrate source. Evaluated on position, quantity and combined plant load rather than treated as automatically poor.

3. Norkotah Potato

Tier C, moderate or neutral ingredient

Whole Carbohydrate

Whole carbohydrate source. Evaluated on position, quantity and combined plant load rather than treated as automatically poor.

4. Dried Yeast

Tier C, moderate or neutral ingredient

Nutrient Supplement

Yeast, probiotic or fermentation product used in functional amounts.

5. Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols)

Tier A, exceptional food ingredient

Named Animal Fat

Named animal fat. Species is identified, which supports transparency and fat quality.

Animal Protein Quality

11.6 / 25

This is the largest single category in FeedWise. It looks at which animal ingredients are present, whether the species is named, whether organs, egg and named fats are included, and whether concentrated plant proteins are diluting the animal content.

  • Named animal protein first

    Beef Meal is a named animal ingredient in position 1.

    +8 / 8
  • Animal Prominence Index

    Animal Prominence Index 41 of 100. This is a FeedWise position-weighted measure of how far animal ingredients dominate the ingredient panel. It is a label-position index, not a manufacturer-disclosed recipe percentage.

    +1.2 / 5
  • Liver

    No liver in the ingredient panel.

    0 / 2
  • Heart

    No heart in the ingredient panel.

    0 / 2
  • Other appropriate organs

    No additional organ meats identified.

    0 / 2
  • Whole egg

    No meaningful egg inclusion.

    0 / 1
  • Named animal or marine fats

    Named animal or marine fat sources: Chicken Fat (preserved with mixed tocopherols).

    +1 / 2
  • Verified animal ingredient proportion

    The manufacturer has not published an animal ingredient percentage. Excluded from the score rather than counted against the product.

    NOT SCORED

Ingredient Quality

15.1 / 20

Every ingredient is classified into a quality tier and weighted by its position on the label, so ingredient number one counts far more than ingredient number fifteen.

  • Position weighted ingredient quality

    9 food ingredients assessed by quality tier with early positions weighted most heavily. 10 fortifying nutrients or preservatives excluded from the average.

    +15.1 / 20

Carbohydrate and Plant Load

6.8 / 15
  • Estimated carbohydrate: 38 percent
  • Pulse ingredients detected: none
  • Plant protein concentrates: none
  • Ingredient splitting: not detected

Estimated carbohydrate, calculated as 100 minus protein, fat, moisture, fibre and ash.

  • Carbohydrate burden

    Calculated with a published ash value carbohydrate of 38 percent.

    +3 / 7
  • Ingredient based plant load

    Plant load assessed as HIGH. Carbohydrate bearing plant ingredients: Burbank Potato (starchy vegetable), Norkotah Potato (starchy vegetable), Tomato Pomace (fibre ingredient).

    +3.8 / 8

How is it made?

5 / 10

Processing method: Extruded. This category measures food integrity only. Raw handling safety is assessed separately under Safety and Quality Control, so a raw food can score well here and still lose safety points.

  • Processing method

    Extruded processing. Food integrity only. Raw handling safety is assessed separately under Safety and Quality Control.

    +5 / 10

How transparent is the manufacturer?

9.5 / 10
  • Animal species clearly identified

    Every animal ingredient names its species.

  • Ingredient sourcing disclosed

    The manufacturer publishes ingredient sourcing information.

  • Country or region identified

    Country or region of origin published: Canada.

  • Manufacturing location identified

    Manufacturing location published: FirstMate-owned and operated manufacturing facilities, Canada.

  • Detailed nutritional analysis

    A detailed nutritional analysis is published.

  • Traceability information

    Traceability information is available.

  • Manufacturer provides sourcing detail

    Not publicly verified

  • Overall formulation transparency

    A complete ingredient panel and an identified manufacturer are on file.

Marketing language alone does not count. Anything that has not been published is shown as not publicly verified rather than as a failure.

Nutritional Formulation

9 / 10
  • Complete and balanced for the stated life stage

    FirstMate New Zealand Beef Meal Formula is Formulated to meet the Nutritional Guidelines Established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for Maintenance.

  • Detailed nutritional analysis available

    A full guaranteed analysis with energy content is on file.

  • Qualified formulation expertise

    Qualified formulation expertise is documented.

  • Feeding trial or validation

    Not publicly verified

  • Calcium and phosphorus disclosed

    Calcium 1.8 percent and phosphorus 1 percent disclosed.

Safety and Quality Control

4 / 10
  • Batch testing

    Not publicly verified

  • Pathogen testing

    Not publicly verified

  • Supplier verification

    Not publicly verified

  • Lot traceability

    Lot level traceability is documented.

  • Nutrient verification

    Not publicly verified

  • Manufacturing quality program

    A recognised manufacturing quality program is documented (for example HACCP, SQF or CFIA registration).

  • Recall context and corrective action

    No recalls on file.

A recall alone does not destroy a score. Severity, cause, frequency, recency and documented corrective action are all considered.

What we could not verify

Unknown information is not treated as bad information. It is scored as unverified and it lowers the confidence rating instead.

  • Verified animal ingredient percentage
  • Pathogen testing
Submit a correction or supply missing evidence

Where to Buy

Canadian retailers on record. Stock and price vary by store and province.

    Guaranteed Analysis

    As-fed basis
    Protein
    25%
    28% dry matter
    Minimum crude protein as declared on the label.
    Fat
    13%
    Minimum crude fat as declared.
    Fibre
    4%
    Maximum crude fibre as declared.
    Moisture
    10%
    Maximum moisture as declared.
    Ash
    10%
    Mineral content remaining after combustion.
    Calcium
    1.8%
    Declared calcium level.
    Phosphorus
    1%
    Declared phosphorus level.
    Energy
    3310
    kcal / kg
    Metabolisable energy per kilogram.

    FirstMate New Zealand Beef Meal Formula is Formulated to meet the Nutritional Guidelines Established by the AAFCO Dog Food Nutrient Profiles for Maintenance.

    Certifications & Claims

    Published certifications and manufacturer claims appear with their source where available. A source link documents the claim; it is not independent certification.

    AAFCO nutrient profile statement
    Manufacturer claim
    Made in Canada
    Manufacturer claim

    FeedWise Findings

    The FeedWise Verdict

    6.1/ 10GoodModerate Confidence

    Why it scored this way

    • Complete diet: complete and balanced (aafco)
    • Limited animal protein contribution relative to the plant content
    • No concentrated plant protein inflating the protein figure
    • Strong disclosed transparency criteria; undisclosed sourcing details remain unverified

    Full score breakdown

    Animal Protein Quality11.6 / 25
    Ingredient Quality15.1 / 20
    Carbohydrate and Plant Load6.8 / 15
    Processing and Food Integrity5 / 10
    Transparency and Sourcing9.5 / 10
    Nutritional Formulation9 / 10
    Safety and Quality Control4 / 10
    Total61 / 100

    FeedWise Score 6.1 · Good · Moderate Confidence

    How FeedWise Scores Dog Food →

    Scored by the FeedWise 100 point model. Read the full methodology.

    Community reviews do not affect the Feed Wise score.

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