Nature's Variety raw cat/dog food? Dave?
Posted by Anonymous on Sep 13, 2007 · Member since Dec 1969 · 11789 posts
I was wondering if anyone (most likely Dave) knew where Nature's Variety gets their rabbit, chicken, lamb, etc. from. Is it from humane, sustainable farms? I know the organic chicken variety is probably a little better, but I wasn't sure. I'm in the process of switching my cats over to a partially raw diet and want to make sure that their meat is coming from a humane source.
Thanks folks :)
Since you mentioned humane/sustainable, this is directly from their website:
"The Nature's Variety line of natural pet products was developed by families who have been engaged in sustainable production agriculture for over 140 years - raising quality livestock and growing crops in America's heartland. For the past 30 years, we have been primarily focused on the meat processing business. Our experience in processing meats for human consumption gives us an ongoing advantage in providing superior, nutritional pet products."
Obviously the Organic raw is going to be obtained from farms with the highest standards. I'll try to find out exactly where their other raw meats are from. My ex has a natural/organic petfood store and she sells a ton of NV. She knows a good deal of the people at the company personally so (sales reps. that should know the answer to your question)...I'll "pester" her later to see what she can find out. I do know that all of their raw is made on site at their own facility. I know that unlike most petfood manufacturers that have their products made at other factories to their specifications and then have their names put on it...NV does actually make their own foods at their own plant. Case in point is that one of the so called "best" pet foods out there, Dick Van Patten's Natural Balance was involved in a recall recently. Some of their foods were being made in some crummy plant in GA that also made hot dogs in cocktail sauce, etc. that was recalled because of botulism! Most high end pet foods are not made at a factory or plant that the company actually owns....it's just some people that come up with a recipe, and then field out the different products to different facilities. As mentioned above, NV is not one of those companies....(Same with Flint River Ranch pet foods...Evangers too)....I am curious to find out the source of the animals for the rest of their product lines...I'll post more when I find out the answers....
-dave
Thanks, Dave!
On a side note, hot dogs in cocktail sauce? Gag :P
I've just gone from feeding my dog Evo brand dogfood (good for dry food) to feeding him raw. I originally went to my natural petfood store to get Nature's Variety, which they do carry. But I ended up getting Primal raw food after comparing the two.
Primal uses, not only 100% Human Grade Ingredients, Antibiotic & Hormone Free Meats & Poultry, Organic & Unrefined Supplements, 100% Grain Free, All Natural Vegetarian Fed Protein Sources, but also uses Organic Fruits & Vegetables where as Nature's Variety does not state they use organic fruits and veggies in their products. Primal cost $1 more per pound of their raw meat patties, but I felt it was a fair trade-off to make sure I wasn't giving my dog added chemicals or pesticides.
Dave can you ask your ex-wife if she can find out for sure about that too?
I've just gone from feeding my dog Evo brand dogfood (good for dry food) to feeding him raw. I originally went to my natural petfood store to get Nature's Variety, which they do carry. But I ended up getting Primal raw food after comparing the two.
Primal uses, not only 100% Human Grade Ingredients, Antibiotic & Hormone Free Meats & Poultry, Organic & Unrefined Supplements, 100% Grain Free, All Natural Vegetarian Fed Protein Sources, but also uses Organic Fruits & Vegetables where as Nature's Variety does not state they use organic fruits and veggies in their products. Primal cost $1 more per pound of their raw meat patties, but I felt it was a fair trade-off to make sure I wasn't giving my dog added chemicals or pesticides.
Dave can you ask your ex-wife if she can find out for sure about that too?
I know she does not sell Primal...but I'll ask her what she knows about it.
But.....the Organic Raw from NV is totally Organic.....fruits and veggies as well. So if they told you at the store that NV does not use organic fruits and veggies....they were not being honest. I know all of their raw is 95% meat, 5% fruits and veggie....no grains as well.
Here's the ingredients:
Organic Chicken, Raw Ground Organic Chicken Bone, Organic Chicken Liver, Organic Chicken Heart, Organic Chicken Eggs, Organic Bok Choy, Organic Carrots, Organic Apples, Organic Pears, Organic Persimmons, Organic Flaxseed Oil, Organic Yogurt (Organic Grade A Pasteurized Milk, Organic Nonfat Milk, Fructan, Pectin, Live and Active Yogurt Cultures: Lactobacillus acidophilus, Bifidobacterium lactis, Streptococcus thermophilus, Lactobacillus bulgaricus,
Lactobacillus casei), Organic Alfalfa Sprouts, Organic Parsley, Organic Blueberries.
Maybe they just wanted you to spend $1 more per bag.... ::)
(Kidding...I'm sure it's a great food).... ;)
-dave
Perfect topic as I have a question about feeding my puppy! I switched Bella over from a "natural" dog food to Nature's Variety (chicken). (Thanks Dave!). The last bag she would just gobble up at breakfast and dinner. Now, not so much; I am giving her more freedom with her food now. Like leaving some in her bowl because she was going through a growth spurt and would go over to her bowl and try to get more food out of it. Did her taste buds change (like overnight)?? She still really likes the Nature's Variety frozen raw medallions. I got some Flint River Ranch sample stuff. I mixed the 2 brands together and it looks like she is just picking out FRR over NV. Does that mean I should switch her again? Or maybe she just wants a little more variety? Hrmph! ???
Wow, I even looked on Nature's Variety website and didn't see the organic in front of all their fruit and veggie ingredients' lists. As long as they're completely organic I'll go ahead and buy NV too. Nice to have more than one great quality option! Thanks Dave!!
Edit: Ok, I see now from their site. There is an Organic Chicken Raw Formula that is all organic, then there are the other raw beef, chicken, lamb, venison, and rabbit formulas.
According to their sites Primal does use all organic meats and veggies and fruits in all their raw foods, so that's the difference. And I was also comparing Primal's Raw Chicken Patties to Nature's Variety Chicken Patties (not the Organic Chicken Patties) so there may be less of a price difference, just for anyone who might be interested in comparing the two. ??? I've no doubt they're both great foods with great people behind the companies! :D
Perfect topic as I have a question about feeding my puppy! I switched Bella over from a "natural" dog food to Nature's Variety (chicken). (Thanks Dave!). The last bag she would just gobble up at breakfast and dinner. Now, not so much; I am giving her more freedom with her food now. Like leaving some in her bowl because she was going through a growth spurt and would go over to her bowl and try to get more food out of it. Did her taste buds change (like overnight)?? She still really likes the Nature's Variety frozen raw medallions. I got some Flint River Ranch sample stuff. I mixed the 2 brands together and it looks like she is just picking out FRR over NV. Does that mean I should switch her again? Or maybe she just wants a little more variety? Hrmph! ???
Yeah...feel free to "mix it up" at times. NV even states on their bags to switch their foods from Raw, to Kibble, to canned, freeze dried.....etc. I mix and match brands all the time. I can feed some of my dogs a food for 2 or three days and then they turn their noses up at it (except King....he would eat the bag the food comes in if he had the chance :D ).... Bella just wants to be like her Mom and Dad....she wants to eat different stuff everyday....there's nothing wrong with that. Once they are used to you switching their foods, you don't have to worry about them getting "transitioned" from one food to another.....that only happens when you feed a pet the same food everyday for a very long time period. I also think switching their foods is a bit healthier for them. By giving them different foods, they'll get different vitamins and nutrients from different sources.....just like us! ;)