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LINE VS LINE · MERRICK KIBBLE

Merrick Backcountry vs Merrick Kitchen Comforts

Merrick Backcountry vs Merrick Kitchen Comforts: a bag from each line with their average protein, fat, starch and calories

Merrick Backcountry against Merrick Kitchen Comforts, measured across 13 and 10 kibble recipes: 33.8% vs 26.3% protein and 29% vs 30% starch, as fed.

13 kibble recipes reviewed 10 kibble recipes reviewed
THE SHORT VERSION

Main Differences

  • Backcountry averages 33.8% protein as fed across 13 recipes; Kitchen Comforts averages 26.3% protein as fed across 10 recipes.
  • Fat and estimated starch are close between the lines: fat averages 16.5% for Backcountry versus 15% for Kitchen Comforts, and estimated starch averages 29% versus 30%.
  • Calories per cup average 433 for Backcountry and 414 for Kitchen Comforts.
  • Backcountry recipes are 77% grain-free; none of Kitchen Comforts' recipes are grain-free.
  • Backcountry covers Adult, Puppy and All Life Stages dogs with one Large Breed recipe at an estimated $4.25 per pound; Kitchen Comforts covers Adult, Senior and Puppy dogs with two Small Breed recipes at an estimated $2.92 per pound.
HEAD TO HEAD

The Two Lines in Figures

Measure Merrick Backcountry Merrick Kitchen Comforts Average kibble
Kibble recipes compared 13 10 1,747 in total
Protein, as fed 33.8%28.0% to 38.0% 26.3%25.0% to 28.0% 27.2%
Fat, as fed 16.5%14.0% to 17.0% 15.0%9.0% to 16.0% 14.3%
Starch, as fedEstimated, not measured. It is what is left of the guaranteed analysis once protein, fat, fiber and moisture are taken out, with ash assumed at 6%. That leftover is mostly starch but also carries sugars and the fiber a crude-fiber test misses, so read it as a close estimate rather than an exact figure. Measured as fed, the same basis as the bag. 29%25% to 38% 30%25% to 39% 37%
Calories per cup 433386 to 522 414381 to 467 398
Grain-free recipes 77% 0%
Life stages Adult 9, Puppy 2, All Life Stages 1 Adult 8, Senior 1, Puppy 1
Breed sizes All Breeds 13, Large Breed 1 All Breeds 9, Small Breed 2
Price per pound, estimate $4.25/lbEstimate, median of 11 of 13 recipesRecipes run $4.22 to $5.60Prices checked Sep 28, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026 $2.92/lbEstimate, median of 10 of 10 recipesRecipes run $2.41 to $3.75Prices checked Sep 28, 2026 to Oct 25, 2026
FDA recalls, last 5 years None None

Line figures are averages over every kibble recipe we review from that line, with the lowest and highest recipe underneath. Wet food, toppers and prescription diets are left out so the numbers compare like with like. Everything is as fed, the way the bag prints it; the switch above the table shows protein and fat on a dry matter basis instead. Why we use as fed. The price per pound is an estimate: the median of each recipe's lowest price per pound across the bag sizes and US retailers our price checks found, so a single bag can cost more or less. Shelf prices change often.

WHERE TO START

Top Recipes in Each Line

Merrick Backcountry

Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Hero’s Banquet Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Most protein in the line, 38.0% as fed Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Hero’s Banquet Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Protein 38% Fat 17% Starch 25% 396 kcal/cup Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Great Plains Red Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Least starch in the line, about 28% Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Great Plains Red Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Protein 35% Fat 17% Starch 28% 394 kcal/cup Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Game Bird Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Fewest calories in the line, 386 kcal per cup Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused Game Bird Recipe Grain-Free Dry Dog Food Protein 34% Fat 17% Starch 29% 386 kcal/cup

Merrick Kitchen Comforts

Merrick Kitchen Comforts Small Breed Real Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Most protein in the line, 27.0% as fed Merrick Kitchen Comforts Small Breed Real Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Protein 27% Fat 16% Starch 25% 467 kcal/cup Merrick Kitchen Comforts Real Beef & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Least starch in the line, about 25% Merrick Kitchen Comforts Real Beef & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Protein 26% Fat 16% Starch 25% 386 kcal/cup Merrick Kitchen Comforts Real Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Fewest calories in the line, 420 kcal per cup Merrick Kitchen Comforts Real Chicken & Brown Rice Dry Dog Food Protein 26% Fat 15% Starch 27% 420 kcal/cup
CHOOSING

Who Each Line Suits

A GOOD FIT FOR

Merrick Backcountry

  • Dogs needing higher protein kibble, since Backcountry averages 33.8% protein as fed
  • Owners wanting grain-free kibble, since 77% of Backcountry recipes are grain-free
  • Large breed adult dogs, given the Backcountry Large Breed recipe
A GOOD FIT FOR

Merrick Kitchen Comforts

  • Senior dogs, given the Merrick Healthy Grains Senior Recipe
  • Small breed dogs, given the two Small Breed recipes in Kitchen Comforts
  • Dogs needing lower fat, from the Healthy Weight recipe with fat as low as 9%
THE WHOLE RANGE

Every Merrick Line

Line Kibble recipes Protein Fat Starch Kcal / cup Grain-free Price / lb, est.
Grain Free 14 31.3% 15.1% 33% 406 100% $3.32
Backcountry 13 33.8% 16.5% 29% 433 77% $4.25
Kitchen Comforts 10 26.3% 15.0% 30% 414 0% $2.92
Lil' Plates 9 30.7% 15.3% 33% 444 89% $3.50
Full Source 6 31.7% 16.3% 32% 386 33% $3.64
Limited Ingredient Diet 5 23.8% 14.0% 41% 427 60% $3.45
Backcountry Raw Infused 1 32.0% 16.0% 32% 395 100% $4.25

Averages over each line's kibble we review, as fed. Lines with only a few recipes swing more on one bag. Price per pound is the same estimate as above.

KEEP COMPARING

More Merrick Line Comparisons

Merrick Backcountry vs Merrick Grain Free Merrick Backcountry vs Merrick Lil' Plates Merrick Grain Free vs Merrick Lil' Plates Merrick Grain Free vs Merrick Kitchen Comforts Merrick Lil' Plates vs Merrick Kitchen Comforts

The Merrick Lines

All Merrick food Merrick Grain Free Merrick Backcountry Merrick Kitchen Comforts Merrick Lil' Plates Merrick Full Source Merrick Limited Ingredient Diet Merrick Backcountry Raw Infused

Merrick Against Other Brands

Merrick vs Blue Buffalo Merrick vs Wellness Merrick vs Taste of the Wild Canidae vs Merrick Merrick vs Fromm

How we compare: every figure comes from the guaranteed analysis and ingredient list of recipes we review, not from the brand's own claims. Starch is our estimate, since no manufacturer prints it. The written comparison is drafted from these figures, and every number in it is checked against them. Figures refreshed October 25, 2026.

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