Beta Adult Small Breed review

In our banding this food comes out Average, a step below the Good where the typical adult dry food finishes. That puts it just under the centre of the pack, not at the back of it. Declared chicken meal and a printed mineral panel do the earning; unnamed fats, digest and a grain-heavy build do the holding back. Protein and processing reads Average, with nutritional balance and transparency both a rung above it at Good.

Ingredients, as declared: Chicken meal (27%), Wheat*, Corn*, Animal fats, Wheat middlings*, Soya meal, Digest, Dried beet pulp, Minerals, Dried chicory root*1 (1%), Dried carrot* (0.07%), Dried spinach* (0.07%), Dried parsley* (0.07%), *Natural ingredients, 1Natural prebiotic

Chicken meal at 27% supplies the protein, and because meal is dried and concentrated before mixing, it delivers more protein weight for weight than fresh chicken would. The declared 27% protein converts to 29.7% of dry matter, respectable for a grain-led kibble.

Wheat, maize and wheat middlings follow, so grain does most of the carrying. Carbohydrate converts to an estimated 46.2% of dry matter, which happens to be the exact figure typical of adult dry food.

Soya meal bulks the protein from the plant side. It is a routine ingredient at this level of the market, though its protein is less available to a dog than meat protein, and it is a known irritant for a minority of sensitive dogs.

Digest gives the kibble its aroma and the animal fats give it energy, and neither is named to a species. Beet pulp, chicory root at 1% and the 0.07% pinches of dried carrot, spinach and parsley make up the gentler end of the list.

Vitamins and trace elements are dosed in print, zinc at 110 mg/kg leading, with selenium in the basic sodium selenite form. At 367 kcal per 100g it runs slightly denser than the 357 typical of adult dry food, which matters when the dog eating it weighs 5kg and every gram shows.

Sold in a single 2kg bag, a sensible size when the dog eating it is small.

The label suggests 80 grams a day for a 3kg dog, 110 grams at 5kg and 160 grams at 9kg on normal activity. Small breeds show weight gain quickly, so adjust in small steps.