Why Our Ingredients Matter
Fresh Fish vs High Quality Fishmeal
Fish is an excellent protein source for dogs, but how it's processed makes all the difference. "Fresh fish" sounds premium, but it's 60-75% water. Oonce that's removed, very little protein remains in the final food. And terms such as "fresh salmon" on a label often means filleting by-products: frames, bones, skin, and connective tissue, not the fillet itself.
High-quality whole-fish fishmeal is the opposite. Water is removed to create a concentrated, highly digestible protein source, produced under strict hygiene and microbiological controls.
But not all fishmeal is equal. Grades vary from processing remnants to premium whole-fish meals.
Crude protein figures can also be miseading. Some foods inflate them with pea, maize, wheat, or soya protein concentrates. These cheap additions pad the label to make the spec sheet look stronger, but they're less digestible, less bioavailable, and nutritionally poorer than premium marine protein — a false economy dressed up as better nutrition.
Why Nutramare Uses Arctic LT71 Fishmeal
For Nutramare, only one option meets our standards: Arctic LT71 fishmeal.
This premium fishmeal is produced from wild caught whole Arctic fish and processed using a specialised low-temperature drying method. This gentle process helps preserve sensitive nutrients such as essential amino acids and naturally occurring omega-3 fatty acids.
With a crude protein content of approximately 71%, Arctic LT71 fishmeal represents the upper end of what is technically achievable and reflects exceptional raw material quality. The result is a highly digestible and nutritionally dense protein source that supports healthy muscle development, skin health and coat condition.
The exceptional digestibility of Arctic LT71 fishmeal makes it especially well suited to dogs with higher energy demands such as working and performance dogs.
Why Nutramare Uses Sorghum & Buckwheat
Carbohydrate sources deserve the same level of scrutiny as protein sources. In dog food, grains are often judged too broadly, with the assumption that they are automatically undesirable. In reality, what matters is the quality of the ingredient, how it is used, and the nutritional role it plays within the finished formula.
For Nutramare, sorghum and buckwheat were chosen as functional carbohydrate sources, not as cheap fillers. Both are naturally gluten free, highly digestible, and provide complex carbohydrates that help support steadier energy release.
They also contribute useful fibre for digestive health, along with naturally occurring minerals and antioxidant compounds that support the overall nutritional profile of the recipe. Their lower to moderate glycaemic profile makes them a considered choice within a balanced dry food formula.
Used properly, ingredients such as sorghum and buckwheat demonstrate that carbohydrate sources should not be judged simply by category or familiarity, but by the quality, function, and nutritional value they bring to the finished food.