N&D Dry Dog Food: Calories, Protein, and Bag Longevity
Energy varies by 33% across N&D's 39 dry dog foods. Calories, protein per 1000 kcal, and how many days a bag will last based on dog size.
The exact same 12 kg bag of N&D will last about 33 days for a 30 kg dog, and roughly 75 days for a 10 kg dog. Because the daily energy requirement in dogs does not increase linearly with weight, there is no single answer to the question "how many days will a bag last?". This article puts side-by-side the manufacturer-published analysis and energy values for the 39 N&D dry dog foods in our catalog, calculating bag longevity by weight class and protein density by energy.
Moisture is constant in dry food, energy is not
To compare crude percentages in wet food, one must first remove the water (we did this in the wet food article). The situation is different in dry food: moisture ranges between 9% and 9% across all 39 of these products, meaning crude protein and fat percentages can be compared directly. Still, that alone is not enough: if two foods have different calorie densities, you consume different amounts of the same percentage. Therefore, we used two additional metrics: the manufacturer-declared metabolizable energy (kcal/kg) and protein per 1000 kcal. The latter shows how many grams of protein the dog receives regardless of which food supplies its daily energy. For cat foods, we performed the same analysis in our N&D dry cat food article.
How daily grams and bag longevity were calculated
For daily energy, we used a rough reference: resting energy (70 × kg^0.75) multiplied by an approximately 1.6 factor (moderately active, neutered adult dog). Daily grams = daily kcal ÷ (kcal/kg ÷ 1000); bag longevity = bag kg × kcal/kg ÷ daily kcal. The median energy for adult recipes is 3937 kcal/kg for small/mini sizes and 3926 kcal/kg for medium-large sizes; the table below was prepared using these values. These are averages: a dog's activity, breed, and age significantly alter the outcome; the feeding table on the packaging and veterinary advice should be taken as the basis.
| Dog weight | Suitable size class | Rough daily energy | Daily grams | Small bag duration | Large bag duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 kg | Small/Mini | 374 kcal | 95 g | 2.5 kg: 26 days | 7 kg: 74 days |
| 10 kg | Small/Mini | 630 kcal | 160 g | 2.5 kg: 16 days | 7 kg: 44 days |
| 20 kg | Medium-Large | 1059 kcal | 270 g | 2.5 kg: 9 days | 12 kg: 44 days |
| 30 kg | Medium-Large | 1436 kcal | 366 g | 2.5 kg: 7 days | 12 kg: 33 days |
Table: 39 products
Ordered from lowest to highest energy density.
Series by series comparison
| Series | Product count | Protein (crude) | kcal / 100 g |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prime | 1 | 36% | 419 |
| Ancestral Grain | 7 | 27%–35% | 338–416 |
| Pumpkin | 5 | 28%–35% | 393–415 |
| Brown | 1 | 32% | 412 |
| Tropical Selection | 8 | 25%–30% | 386–406 |
| White | 2 | 23%–28% | 393–405 |
| Ocean | 7 | 30%–34% | 394–400 |
| Quinoa | 8 | 23%–30% | 314–389 |
Six findings from the table
1. There is approximately a 33% energy difference between the lightest and the most dense food. Quinoa Weight Lamb Light Small Breed Dog Food is the lowest at 314 kcal/100 g, and Prime Grain-Free Chicken and Pomegranate Small Breed Puppy Food is the highest at 419 kcal/100 g. Two formulas designed for weight control, Ancestral Grain Light (338 kcal/100 g) and Quinoa Weight (314 kcal/100 g), are significantly below the median of adult formulas (approximately 394 kcal/100 g).
2. The protein percentage and protein density do not give the same order. Protein per 1000 kcal is lowest in White Sea Bass, Fennel, and Spirulina Small Breed Dog Food (58 g; crude protein 23%) and highest in Ancestral Grain Low Ancestral Grain Light Chicken and Pomegranate Small Breed Dog Food (101 g; crude protein 34%). Because fat is reduced in weight control products, energy decreases and protein per calorie increases.
3. Puppy formulas are more dense than the adult version of the same recipe. In the Pumpkin Grain-Free Pumpkin Lamb and Blueberry puppy formula, crude protein is 35%, fat is 20%, 414 kcal/100 g; whereas in the adult version, protein is 28%, fat is 18%, 393 kcal/100 g. Giving puppy food to an adult dog in the same grammage increases energy; giving adult food to a puppy may be insufficient for growth.
4. Skin-coat and digestion formulas keep protein and fat low. In the Quinoa Skin&Coat Duck formula, crude protein is 23%, fat is 12%; in the Quinoa Digestion formula, protein is 25%, fat is 12%. The protein per 1000 kcal values for these products are 63 and 67 g; falling between the median of adult formulas (71 g) and the lower end of the list (58 g), meaning protein density is below the median. This preference may be a conscious choice in dogs with sensitivities; the decision should be made with a veterinarian.
5. Energy in senior dog food is lower than in adult food. The Ancestral Grain Senior formula is 370 kcal/100 g (15% fat); the median of adult formulas is around 394 kcal/100 g. Since daily energy requirement may decrease in aging dogs, the grammage of this product is adjusted accordingly.
6. Main ingredient ratios are clearly stated in the manufacturer's composition list. In the Prime Grain-Free Chicken and Pomegranate Small Breed Puppy Food formula, boneless chicken is 28% and dehydrated chicken protein is 27%. Because fresh meat and dehydrated meat protein are separate lines, one must read them together; since a large part of fresh meat is water, its post-processing contribution may be smaller than dehydrated protein.
If you feed dry food along with wet food
If you are going to add canned food, you need to subtract its energy from the dry food. Example: N&D Prime Chicken dog canned food carries about 300 kcal in a 285 g can (estimated). If you are giving half a can (about 150 kcal) daily to a 10 kg dog, you need to reduce the daily dry food by about 38 g (using the median energy of the medium-large size). Adding wet food without reducing dry food is one of the common causes of weight gain. You can check our Royal Canin wet food article for wet food analysis of other brands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is N&D dry dog food sufficient on its own?
Products are formulated according to life stage (puppy, adult, senior) and size class; base your choice on the "complete food" statement and feeding table on the packaging. Adjust the amount according to the dog's weight, activity, and neuter status.
What is the difference between small/mini and medium-large size?
Size class is chosen according to the dog's adult weight (dogs in the small/mini size are smaller). In the tables in our catalog, protein, fat, and energy values vary by recipe; look at the weight range on the packaging when choosing the size class.
Which one should be given to a puppy?
Recipes with "Puppy" in their name are formulated for the growth period. The daily amount for a puppy should be determined from the packaging table according to age and weight; the daily gram calculation in this article is for adult dogs.
How to transition to a new food?
Make the transition to the new food gradually by mixing it with the old food. Product packaging recommends storing in a cool, dry place and in a sealed package.
Are these values exact?
The values are the analysis and energy declaration published by the manufacturer; crude percentages are also processed into our product records. If the manufacturer changes the recipe, the values may also change; check the packaging for exact values. Daily grams and bag longevity are approximate calculations for an average dog.
Data source and limitations
39 products were compiled from analytical components and metabolizable energy values on the manufacturer's (Farmina) dog food product pages; catalog products were matched by recipe, life stage, size class, and protein source. The Brown Lamb and Carrot (small breed, adult) and Tropical Selection Boar and Salmon (mini breed, adult) recipes were omitted from the table as no analysis was found on the source page. The article is for general informational purposes; veterinary consultation is required for nutritional planning in dogs with illnesses, pregnant, nursing, or senior dogs.
You can check the N&D brand, Adult Dog Food, and Puppy Food pages for all products.