Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Ashland Farms is an economic system logo of cat meals bought in the course of the retail chain Circle of relatives Greenback. It’s an ultra-affordable select however is it value putting in place your cat’s bowl? In finding out on this detailed assessment.
The Cats.com Same old—Ranking Ashland Farms on What Issues
We’ve analyzed Ashland Farms and graded it in line with the Cats.com usual, comparing the emblem on species-appropriateness, aspect high quality, product selection, value, buyer enjoy, and recall historical past. Right here’s the way it charges in every of those six key spaces.
Scores
- Species-Appropriateness – 2/10
- Aspect High quality – 1/10
- Product Selection – 3/10
- Worth – 3/10
- Buyer Enjoy – 2/10
- Recall Historical past – 4/10
General Rating: 12/10
Meets AAFCO Tips? Sure
We give Ashland Farms a 12 out of 25 score or an F grade.
Why Believe Cats.com
Sooner than reviewing Ashland Farms, I researched the emblem to decide its historical past, the place its merchandise are bought, and the way the meals is manufactured. I then bought 3 recipes—one kibble and two canned meals—and evaluated them objectively the usage of the ideas at the label. In the end, I examined the 3 meals with my cats Bagel, Munchkin, and Biscuit.
In checking out Ashland Farms cat meals, I made observations concerning the look, scent, and texture of the meals. My cats supplied their evaluations on taste and basic enchantment. I additionally looked for buyer critiques to get a greater working out of the typical Ashland Farms buyer enjoy.
About Ashland Farms
Ashland Farms is a private-label dog food line bought by means of the American selection retailer chain Circle of relatives Greenback. It’s a logo liked for its nice costs, providing a couple of dozen other meals and treats for cats and canines.
Circle of relatives Greenback supplies little or no details about the Ashland Farms logo instead of to mention the meals has “the diet and high quality components your puppy wishes.” They point out “high quality protein” and herbal components, however advertising and marketing phrases like those are beautiful generic.
A 30-second video at the Circle of relatives Greenback web site highlights the truth that the meals is made in america and mentions Ashland Farms’ family-owned amenities. Analysis printed a number of farms around the nation known as Ashland Farm, nevertheless it’s unclear whether or not any of them are in truth related to the Circle of relatives Greenback dog food logo.
Sourcing and Production
On-line details about the producing of Ashland Farms dog food is scarce. Some assets counsel Sunshine Turbines, Inc. produces the dog food, and data at the packaging signifies that the product is sent by means of Midwood Manufacturers, LLC.
Sunshine Turbines is answerable for manufacturers like Evolve and Triumph. They actually have a powerful private-label program with production amenities unfold all through the southeastern United States. Midwood Manufacturers, LLC is headquartered in Chesapeake, VA.
Circle of relatives Greenback doesn’t state when the Ashland Farms logo used to be introduced however Circle of relatives Greenback retail outlets first opened in 1959 and Sunshine Turbines used to be based a decade previous. No particular data is to be had concerning the sourcing of Ashland Farm’s dog food components. We weigh this kind of lack of knowledge closely when score puppy meals.
Recall Historical past
Ashland Farms cat meals hasn’t ever been recalled on the production stage. It has, then again, been recalled on the retail stage at the side of a large number of different merchandise saved and shipped from a Circle of relatives Greenback Distribution Heart in West Memphis, Arkansas.
Circle of relatives Greenback initiated the dog food recall voluntarily in February of 2022 following an FDA inspection that exposed rats within the corporate’s distribution middle. The recall integrated a protracted record of goods that had been shipped from the warehouse to 404 Circle of relatives Greenback retail outlets. The FDA’s announcement of the recall mentions the dangers related to rodents within the facility, together with the possible presence of Salmonella.
There’s no indication that Circle of relatives Greenback gained shopper lawsuits or studies of sickness associated with Ashland Farms dog food concerned within the recall. Shops that gained shipments of affected merchandise had been quickly closed and Circle of relatives Greenback seems to have adopted very best practices in responding to and speaking about the problem.
What Sorts of Cat Meals Does Ashland Farms Be offering?
This economic system cat meals logo gives a restricted collection of dry cat meals and rainy meals in numerous other textures. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
The Ashland Farms logo gives a restricted choice of dry cat meals, rainy cat meals, and treats. Product availability seems to alter from one retailer to some other and recipes would possibly exchange relying at the components to be had to the producer.
One of the crucial merchandise Ashland Farms gives come with:
- Selection Combine Top rate Dry Cat Meals
- Wholesome Necessities Top rate Dry Cat Meals
- Pork Dinner in Gravy Rainy Cat Meals
- Rooster & Tuna Dinner Rainy Cat Meals
Ashland Farms dry cat meals is predicated closely on subtle grains, animal by-products, and synthetic components. Despite the fact that the Wholesome Necessities dry meals I reviewed contains a number of named protein assets like hen derivative meal and white fish meal, the record of components is closely skewed towards low-value plant components. The logo’s rainy cat meals merchandise aren’t any higher.
Despite the fact that they depend much less on carbohydrate fillers, the one Ashland Farms rainy cat meals I may in finding integrated the phrases “taste” and “dinner” within the product title. The time period “dinner” falls underneath the Affiliation of American Feed Regulate Officers’ (AAFCO) 25% rule. This rule states that the named aspect want most effective contain 10% of the whole product (25% by means of weight with out water). The flavour rule doesn’t dictate minimums, most effective {that a} indexed aspect supplies the flavour.
What Did Our Check Cats Assume?
Whilst I didn’t have a prime opinion of Ashland Farms’ high quality going into checking out, I suspected my cats may really feel another way. What reasonable cat meals like this lack in dietary price and species-appropriateness, they ceaselessly make up for generally enchantment.
As suspected, Ashland Farm’s heavy use of animal fat and flavors made this logo successful with my cats.
| Product Title | Meals Kind | Primary Protein Supply | Energy | Worth In step with Ounce | Our Grade |
| Ashland Farms Wholesome Necessities Top rate Dry Cat Meals | Dry | Flooring Corn | 96 kcal/ounces. | $0.06 | D |
| Ashland Farms Pork Dinner in Gravy Rainy Cat Meals | Rainy | Animal Liver | 25 kcal/ounces. | $0.17 | C- |
| Ashland Farms Rooster & Tuna Dinner Rainy Cat Meals | Rainy | Meat By way of-Merchandise | 32 kcal/ounces. | $0.17 | C |
#1 Ashland Farms Wholesome Necessities Top rate Dry Cat Meals
Ashland Farms dry cat meals is available in very small multi-colored kibbles which can be simple for many cats to bite. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
This dry cat meals is formulated for cats of all existence phases and does seem to fulfill AAFCO suggestions for crucial vitamins. Sadly, the recipe is predicated closely on subtle grains (like corn and wheat) in addition to meat and poultry by-products and unspecific animal components. Animal by-products aren’t essentially a problematic aspect but if they’re unspecified it’s exhausting to pass judgement on the standard.
With components like soybean meal and corn gluten meal at the record, it’s exhausting to inform how a lot of the protein on this formulation in truth comes from biologically treasured animal assets. The prime carbohydrate content material and coffee moisture content material of this meals additionally detracts from its species appropriateness.
Whilst this dry cat meals seems to supply low organic price, my cats discovered it extremely interesting. The multi-colored kibbles are very small and simple to bite and the product seems to have a meaty aroma some cats would possibly like.
Substances
Flooring Corn, Rooster By way of-Product Meal (Supply of Rooster Taste), Soybean Meal, Pork and Bone Meal (Supply of Pork Taste), Animal Fats (Preserved with Blended Tocopherols), Complete Wheat, Wheat Middlings, Corn Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles, Corn Gluten Meal, Herbal Salmon Taste, White Fish Meal (Supply of White Fish Taste), Flaxseed, Brewers Dried Yeast, Fish Oil, Phosphoric Acid, Calcium Carbonate, Salt, Calcium Sulfate, Taurine, Added Colour (Purple 40, Yellow 5, Yellow 6, Blue 2), Choline Chloride, Niacin, Diet E Complement, Diet A Complement, Thiamine Mononitrate, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride (Supply of Diet B6), Riboflavin Complement, Diet D3 Complement, Diet B12 Complement, Menadione Sodium Bisulfite Advanced, Folic Acid, Biotin, Copper Sulfate, Manganese Sulfate, Zinc Sulfate, Iron Sulfate, Calcium Iodate, Sodium Selenite.
Substances We Preferred: Pork and Bone Meal, White Fish Meal, Fish Oil
Substances We Didn’t Like: Flooring Corn, Soybean Meal, Complete Wheat, Wheat Middlings, Corn Distillers Dried Grains with Solubles, Corn Gluten Meal, Added Colour
Assured Research
Crude Protein: 30%
Crude Fats: 9%
Crude Fiber: 3%
Moisture: 12%
Dry Topic Foundation
Protein: 34.09%
Fats: 10.23%
Fiber: 3.41%
Carbs: 52.27%
Caloric Weight Foundation
Protein: 30.66%
Fats: 22.34%
Carbs: 47.01%
What We Preferred:
- A lot of assets of animal protein
- Taste is in large part derived from herbal animal assets
- Small kibbles are simple for cats to bite
What We Didn’t Like:
- No dry meals supplies the moisture your cat wishes
- Is based closely on subtle grains and animal by-products
- Accommodates synthetic colours
- Very prime in carbohydrates
#2 Ashland Farms Pork Dinner in Gravy Rainy Cat Meals
This beef-flavored rainy cat meals has a shredded texture and a thick gravy. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Despite the fact that this recipe is described as “red meat taste rainy cat meals,” the main aspect is non-specific animal liver. Even so, there are a large number of named assets of animal protein together with hen, red meat, turkey, and ocean whitefish. There also are the similar meat by-products that seem within the dry meals recipe above.
Whilst this recipe nonetheless accommodates corn, wheat, and soy components, the full carbohydrate content material is not up to Ashland Farms dry meals. It’s additionally a lot upper in moisture which helps hydration and would possibly reinforce digestibility. Sadly, the meals nonetheless accommodates added colour and it’s thickened with guar gum which triggers unfastened stools in some cats.
This rainy cat meals has a shredded look in the beginning look, nevertheless it’s transparent the “shreds” are shaped items of the processed aggregate. Regardless, my cats loved the flavour and gave the impression to in finding the chunky texture and gravy interesting.
Substances
Water Enough for Processing, Animal Liver, Rooster, Pork, Wheat Gluten, Meat By way of-Merchandise, Turkey, Ocean Whitefish, Soy Flour, Potato Starch, Herbal Taste, Corn Starch, Guar Gum, Added Colour, Potassium Chloride, Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Choline Chloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Diet E Complement, Niacin Complement, D-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Complement, Diet A Complement, Biotin, Diet D3 Complement, Diet B12 Complement, Folic Acid, Calcium Carbonate, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Proteinate, Sodium Selenite, Manganese Sulfate, Potassium Iodide, Taurine.
Substances We Preferred: Rooster, Pork, Turkey, Ocean Whitefish
Substances We Didn’t Like: Wheat Gluten, Soy Flour, Potato Starch, Corn Starch, Guar Gum, Added Colour
Assured Research
Crude Protein: 9%
Crude Fats: 2.5%
Crude Fiber: 1%
Moisture: 82%
Dry Topic Foundation
Protein: 50%
Fats: 13.89%
Fiber: 5.56%
Carbs: 30.56%
Caloric Weight Foundation
Protein: 43.75%
Fats: 29.51%
Carbs: 26.74%
What We Preferred:
- First 3 components are animal-based
- Cats appear to seek out the flavour and aroma interesting
- Top in moisture to beef up hydration in cats
What We Didn’t Like:
- Accommodates corn, wheat, and soy components
- Guar gum would possibly cause unfastened stools in some cats
- Accommodates some vaguely named animal components
#3 Ashland Farms Rooster & Tuna Dinner Rainy Cat Meals
This hen and tuna-flavored rainy cat meals has a easy pate texture. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Very similar to the former formulation, this rainy cat meals options a large number of animal proteins. It is predicated closely on meat and poultry by-products with two named assets of muscle meat or entire protein (hen and tuna). Despite the fact that nonetheless not anything as regards to ideally suited, I’d make a choice this recipe over the former one for my cats.
This recipe accommodates fewer plant components than the former, regardless that white rice isn’t probably the most nutrient-rich selection. The meals additionally accommodates nonspecific animal liver, guar gum, and added colour which might give a contribution to abnormal digestion in delicate cats. It additionally accommodates carrageenan which, regardless that no longer showed as a damaging aspect to cats, comes with some controversy.
With its easy, wet texture, my cats discovered this Ashland Farms rainy cat meals interesting as neatly. It’s a extra calorie-dense selection than the former recipe, so cats won’t want to devour as a lot of it.
Substances
Meat By way of-Merchandise, Poultry By way of-Merchandise, Water Enough for Processing, Rooster, Animal Liver, Tuna, Rice, Herbal Taste, Guar Gum, Potassium Chloride, Added Colour, Salt, Nutrients, Choline Chloride, Thiamine Mononitrate, Diet E Complement, Niacin Complement, d-Calcium Pantothenate, Pyridoxine Hydrochloride, Riboflavin Complement, Diet A Complement, Biotin, Diet D3 Complement, Diet B12 Complement, Folic Acid, Carrageenan, Taurine, Minerals, Ferrous Sulfate, Zinc Oxide, Copper Proteinate, Potassium Iodide, Manganese Sulfate, Sodium Selenite, Magnesium Sulfate, Calcium Carbonate.
Substances We Preferred: Rooster, Tuna
Substances We Didn’t Like: Guar Gum, Added Colour, Carrageenan
Assured Research
Crude Protein: 10%
Crude Fats: 5%
Crude Fiber: 1%
Moisture: 78%
Dry Topic Foundation
Protein: 45.45%
Fats: 22.73%
Fiber: 4.55%
Carbs: 27.27%
Caloric Weight Foundation
Protein: 35.53%
Fats: 43.15%
Carbs: 21.32%
What We Preferred:
- Seems to be a basically meat-based recipe
- Wealthy in moisture to beef up your cat’s hydration
- Cats appear to seek out the flavour and aroma interesting
What We Didn’t Like:
- Accommodates some vaguely named animal components
- Guar gum would possibly cause unfastened stools in some cats
- Accommodates added colour
What Do Consumers Recall to mind Ashland Farms Cat Meals?
As a result of Ashland Farms cat meals is most effective bought thru Circle of relatives Greenback, on-line buyer critiques are beautiful scarce. Whilst Circle of relatives Greenback has a presence on Trustpilot and Client Affairs, few critiques point out their dog food logo particularly.
Despite the fact that Ashland Farms’ dry meals used to be very interesting to my cats, many shoppers on Circle of relatives Greenback’s web site had a special enjoy. Kate Barrington / Cats.com
Certain Critiques
“Purchased this bag particularly for a kitten. He ate it in reality neatly with out a lawsuits and is recently six months previous. The opposite taste on this logo didn’t obtain the similar enthusiasm regardless that. He’s going to have a complete bowl and act like I’m ravenous him so I want to return to this one now.”
—HappyJack reviewing Ashland Farms Selection Combine Top rate Dry Cat Meals on FamilyDollar.com, February 2023
“Cats and weaned kittens love this logo. It’s sufficiently small for the kittens and attractive sufficient not to have to combine any rainy meals in with it.”
—Wags reviewing Ashland Farms Wholesome Necessities Top rate Cat Meals on FamilyDollar.com, September 2023
Despite the fact that certain critiques for Ashland Farms are very restricted, a number of glad cat homeowners point out the product’s low value and prime enchantment for his or her cats. A couple of consumers who had a excellent enjoy when compared Ashland Farms to different fashionable manufacturers like Meow Combine and 9Lives.
Unfavorable Critiques
“I purchased this on a whim as a result of I used to be broke and my cat wanted meals. I will be able to admit I stopped up purchasing it as a result of the best way the packaging seemed—it gave the impression to glance adore it used to be extra at the herbal aspect vs giant companies. My cat completely refuses to devour this!! I researched the components and they’re all fillers and trash! I don’t suggest!”
—Yo Momma reviewing Ashland Farms Selection Combine Top rate Dry Cat Meals on FamilyDollar.com, March 2023
“I don’t know what this meals is made from. Not one of the cats will devour it. I bought this meals 3 times and needed to throw it away every time. What’s on this meals {that a} ravenous cat received’t devour it? By no means will acquire once more.”
—KSBS reviewing Ashland Farms Wholesome Necessities Top rate Cat Meals on FamilyDollar.com, November 2022
Unfavorable critiques of Ashland Farms cat meals middle in large part across the deficient high quality of the components. Many cats appear to refuse the meals completely and a few who did devour it skilled digestive disillusioned or vomited in a while after.
How A lot Does Ashland Farms Cat Meals Value?
Pricing on Ashland Farms cat meals would possibly range amongst person outlets however, total, it’s probably the most least dear cat meals manufacturers in the marketplace. In a similar way priced to economic system manufacturers like Fancy Ceremonial dinner and Meow Combine, this cat meals received’t pressure your price range.
After I bought it, Ashland Farms rainy cat meals value $0.95 in line with 5.5-ounce can and the dry meals value $11 for a 12-pound bag. That makes the per-ounce value of Ashland Farms dry meals slightly below $0.06.
Whilst Ashland Farms cat meals is undeniably reasonable, it’s no longer very energy- or nutrient-dense. The prime focus of subtle grains and different non-species-appropriate components method your cat received’t have the ability to soak up vitamins as successfully from this meals as they might a extra meat-based vitamin. They’ll finally end up desiring to devour greater parts and that, mixed with the deficient organic price, additionally method extra mess within the muddle field.
The place Is Ashland Farms Cat Meals Offered?
As a result of Ashland Farms is a private-label logo, it’s most effective bought by means of Circle of relatives Greenback. Availability would possibly range amongst quite a lot of retail outlets, so use the Retailer Locator to peer what native retail outlets have in inventory.
You’ll additionally order by the use of the Circle of relatives Greenback web site however product variety is restricted and small-volume merchandise would possibly require a minimal order. For instance, the minimal acquire quantity for the 15-ounce bag is six baggage.
Despite the fact that you’ll’t acquire Ashland Farms cat meals from primary on-line outlets like Amazon and Chewy, you could possibly order it on-line out of your retailer of selection and feature it delivered by means of an organization that delivers groceries like Instacart.