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LINE VS LINE · MERRICK KIBBLE

Merrick Backcountry vs Merrick Lil' Plates

Merrick Backcountry vs Merrick Lil' Plates: a bag from each line with their average protein, fat, starch and calories

Merrick Backcountry against Merrick Lil' Plates, measured across 13 and 9 kibble recipes: 33.8% vs 30.7% protein and 29% vs 33% starch, as fed.

13 kibble recipes reviewed 9 kibble recipes reviewed
THE SHORT VERSION

Main Differences

  • Backcountry recipes average 33.8% protein as fed, higher than the 30.7% average for Lil' Plates.
  • Fat and calories per cup are close between the two lines: 16.5% fat and 433 kcal per cup for Backcountry versus 15.3% fat and 444 kcal per cup for Lil' Plates.
  • Lil' Plates recipes average higher estimated starch at 33% versus 29% for Backcountry.
  • 77% of Backcountry recipes are grain-free versus 89% of Lil' Plates recipes.
  • Backcountry has 13 recipes labeled mostly for all breeds, including one large breed recipe, across adult and puppy stages. Lil' Plates has 9 recipes, all also labeled small breed, including one senior recipe, at an estimated $3.50 per pound versus $4.25 per pound for Backcountry.
HEAD TO HEAD

The Two Lines in Figures

Measure Merrick Backcountry Merrick Lil' Plates Average kibble
Kibble recipes compared 13 9 1,747 in total
Protein, as fed 33.8%28.0% to 38.0% 30.7%27.0% to 32.0% 27.2%
Fat, as fed 16.5%14.0% to 17.0% 15.3%12.0% to 18.0% 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% 33%31% to 38% 37%
Calories per cup 433386 to 522 444393 to 488 398
Grain-free recipes 77% 89%
Life stages Adult 9, Puppy 2, All Life Stages 1 Adult 6, Senior 1, Puppy 1, All Life Stages 1
Breed sizes All Breeds 13, Large Breed 1 All Breeds 9, Small Breed 9
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 $3.50/lbEstimate, median of 7 of 9 recipesRecipes run $3.05 to $4.30Prices checked Sep 28, 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 Lil' Plates

Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato with Raw Bites Recipe Dry Dog Food Most protein in the line, 32.0% as fed Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Texas Beef + Sweet Potato with Raw Bites Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 32% Fat 15% Starch 33% 449 kcal/cup Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Puppy Real Chicken + Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food Least starch in the line, about 31% Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Puppy Real Chicken + Sweet Potato Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 30% Fat 18% Starch 31% 488 kcal/cup Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Chicken + Sweet Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog Food Fewest calories in the line, 440 kcal per cup Merrick Lil’ Plates Grain-Free Real Chicken + Sweet Potatoes Recipe Dry Dog Food Protein 32% Fat 16% Starch 32% 440 kcal/cup
CHOOSING

Who Each Line Suits

A GOOD FIT FOR

Merrick Backcountry

  • Owners of large breed dogs, the only line with a large breed recipe
  • Owners wanting higher protein kibble, averaging 33.8% protein as fed
  • Owners wanting more recipe variety, with 13 kibble recipes to choose from
A GOOD FIT FOR

Merrick Lil' Plates

  • Small breed dog owners, since every recipe is labeled for small breeds
  • Owners of senior dogs, covered by one senior recipe
  • Owners wanting a higher grain-free share, at 89% of recipes
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 Kitchen Comforts 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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