Doing Better, Feeding Better: Big Country Raw’s 2025 Recipe Update

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” 
— Maya Angelou 

These powerful words are a great reminder that learning is just the beginning — true progress comes from putting that knowledge into action. 

At Big Country Raw, doing better is part of who we are. If you’ve been with us for a while, you know we never stop improving. Over the past seven years, we’ve completed three major recipe updates to enhance the nutritional quality of our food. From early ratio diets to adopting NRC-based formulations, we’ve always led the way — becoming the first Canadian raw food company to base our formulas on nutrient content per calorie, rather than just sticking to traditional meat, organ, and bone ratios. 

Now, we’re excited to announce another important step forward. A new recipe update is coming this spring — and here’s everything you need to know. 

Moving to AAFCO: Formulated for All Life Stages 

Five years ago, we chose to follow NRC guidelines for our Dinners, Fare Game, and later our XL line. Our goal has always been the same: to offer nutritious, affordable food to as many Canadian pets as possible. While we’ve done a lot of education around NRC and why we used it, we understand that AAFCO is more widely recognized — especially by kibble feeders and veterinary professionals. 

The difference between AAFCO and NRC standards is minimal, but the added peace of mind that comes with the AAFCO name makes it worth the small adjustment. That’s why our 2025 recipes will now be AAFCO-formulated for all life stages, including the growth of large breeds. This change will also be reflected on our packaging and labels. 

We’ve always focused on food safety and nutrition. From achieving HACCP certification to now aligning with AAFCO, every step we take is designed to build trust in Big Country Raw products. 

Inside the Updated Recipes 

You’ll still find what your pet loves: recipes packed with over 70% meat, a wide variety of nutrient-rich organ meats, and our signature fruit and veggie mix (low glycemic, high in antioxidants, and full of prebiotic fiber). 

The highly bioavailable chelated minerals you’re used to are still there, along with a few additions in select recipes — like salt and magnesium — to meet AAFCO requirements. Magnesium is already present in bone, but in lower-bone recipes (like beef), we add a small amount. Sodium and chloride (salt) are essential electrolytes that support hydration, organ function, and immune health. Even though salt gets a bad rap in high quantities, it's important to have the right amount — and ours is roughly 10 times lower than in many cheaper pet foods. We include it only when needed, not for taste. 

Omega-3s & Vitamin D: Smarter Additions 

We’ve always recommended adding fish oil at the time of feeding to preserve its quality. But we’ve heard your feedback — many of you want a complete and balanced meal including EPA and DHA. 

That’s why we’ve added a new ingredient: marine algae powder. This shelf-stable source of DHA (and a touch of EPA) goes beyond AAFCO standards. It’s ideal for pets sensitive to fish or for those who just don’t like the smell. And it means you don’t have to add anything — our food will now be fully complete and balanced, from puppy to senior. 

That said, we still strongly encourage variety. Even though each of our Dinners and Fare Game recipes meet all nutritional requirements individually, we recommend rotating 3–5 recipes per month, switching up the main protein. Variety supports a strong gut microbiome and helps prevent food intolerances and pickiness. Adding fish oil or whole fish to the rotation offers additional nutrients and health benefits that marine algae alone doesn’t provide. 

You’ll also notice cod liver oil in all our recipes now as well. While it offers a slight omega boost, its main purpose is to provide safe, highly digestible vitamin D — an essential nutrient that supports immune health and overall well-being. Our high-quality cod liver oil has no fishy smell or taste, so your pet likely won’t even notice it. 

Worried about sensitivities? Fish allergies usually come from proteins, not fats. Since our cod liver oil and algae are fat-based and highly purified, they’re unlikely to trigger any reactions — and algae is entirely different from fish or seafood. 

A Few Changes to the Guaranteed Analysis 

You might spot a few small shifts in the guaranteed analysis — for example, lamb is now a leaner option, while duck is slightly higher in fat. That’s because we’re always working to keep raw food affordable without compromising quality. When we update recipes, we often take the opportunity to source better ingredients based on market availability. 

Thanks to our commitment to third-party lab testing, especially on raw materials, we’re confident that our guaranteed analysis is among the most accurate in the industry. 

Packaging Updates: Clearer and Smarter 

The most visible change? Our packaging. 

We’ve improved our feeding chart to make it easier to understand how to feed your growing, active, or senior pet. It’s now clear that all our Dinners are formulated for all life stages — including puppies — and that Pure and Blend recipes are designed for rotation and need supplements to be fully balanced. 

Looking Ahead 

At Big Country Raw, we’re committed to making raw feeding safe, simple, and affordable — without ever compromising on quality. From using only human-grade ingredients, to earning HACCP certification, and now shifting to AAFCO formulation, we’re proud to continue leading the Canadian raw feeding community. 

And we’re not done yet. We’ve got more exciting improvements on the way to keep doing better — because your pets deserve the best.