In this comparison article for Blackwood vs Kirkland Signature, we'll highlight the key differences between these two pet food brands. To properly compare Blackwood and Kirkland Signature, we'll use up-to-date nutritional and price information.
There are many factors to consider when choosing the best pet food brand for your pet. Factors such as ingredient quality, guaranteed analysis, product safety, brand history, and cost are among the most important factors to consider.
Throughout this Kirkland Signature vs Blackwood comparison, we've utilized average data to make general comparisons. If you'd like to see individual product reviews, visit our Blackwood Review Page or Kirkland Signature Review Page.
Guaranteed Analysis: Kirkland Signature vs. Blackwood
According to AAFCO, all pet food labels must provide a guaranteed analysis of nutrient content. The analysis must provide guaranteed minimum percentages of crude protein and crude fat, and maximum percentages of crude fiber and moisture.
All percentages used in this comparison are averages reported on a dry matter basis.
Blackwood Dog Food vs. Kirkland Signature Dog Food
Dry Dog Food
Blackwood
Kirkland Signature
Crude Protein
27.8%
27.5%
Crude Fat
15.3%
15.3%
Crude Fiber
4.1%
5.4%
Wet/Canned Dog Food
Blackwood
Kirkland Signature
Crude Protein
43.2%
44.4%
Crude Fat
39.8%
27.8%
Crude Fiber
6.8%
5.6%
Crude Protein Comparison For Dog Food
Protein is an extremely important part of your dog's diet. Without sufficient protein, dogs can develop a wide-range of serious health problems.
Both brands provide roughly the same amount of crude protein. With regards to wet dog food, Kirkland Signature and Blackwood also provide roughly the same amount of crude protein.
Crude Fat Comparison For Dog Food
Dietary fats serves a multitude of roles in the proper development and function of our canine companions. Here are some of the benefits (not exhaustive):
Help produce prostaglandins, which reduce inflammation among other critical functions.
Aid in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
Improve skin and coat health
Improve the palatially of your dog's food
As you can see, Blackwood and Kirkland Signature guarantee a similar amount of crude fat. For wet dog foods, Blackwood provides significantly more fat (about 11.99% more).
Blackwood and Kirkland Signature both provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber. With regards to wet dog food, Blackwood and Kirkland Signature also provide roughly the same amount of crude fiber.
Blackwood Cat Food vs. Kirkland Signature Cat Food
Dry Cat Food
Blackwood
Kirkland Signature
Crude Protein
40.5%
34.8%
Crude Fat
18.3%
15.9%
Crude Fiber
3.8%
5.9%
Crude Protein Comparison For Cat Food
Protein is an extremely important part of your cat's diet. Without sufficient protein, cats can develop a wide-range of serious health problems.
Kirkland Signature dry recipes contain 5.68% less protein than Blackwood dry recipes. This difference in protein content is a notable difference between Blackwood and Kirkland Signature.
Crude Fat Comparison For Cat Food
There are many ways in which dietary fat contributes to the overall health of our feline friends. Here is a short list of benefits provided by fats (not exhaustive):
Aid in the digestion and absorption of fat-soluble vitamins
Improve the health of skin/coat
Slow the growth of yeast infections
Slow the development and spread of certain type of cancers.
Maintain healthy blood pressure
According to our average data, Kirkland Signature typically provides less fat than Blackwood. However, this difference is relatively small and doesn't represent a significant difference between the two brands.
If you look at the average percentages of crude fiber, you'll notice that Kirkland Signature typically guarantees 2.14% more fiber. This is a fairly small difference between Kirkland Signature and Blackwood, but still worth mentioning.
Blackwood Pet Food Ingredients vs. Kirkland Signature Pet Food Ingredients
Blackwood and Kirkland Signature both use the following controversial ingredients in many of their products:
Canola Oil
Canola Oil
Canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.
Pea Protein
Pea Protein
Pea protein is produced by removing the starchy parts of peas. Pea protein is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins.
Tomato Pomace
Tomato Pomace
Tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato manufacturing. It's considered a controversial ingredient because many people believe it is an inexpensive low quality filler. However, tomato pomace provides a notable amount of dietary fiber, B vitamins, Lycopene, and vitamin A. Although it is a very inexpensive ingredient, it is not nutritionally empty.
Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Blackwood.
Ground Corn
Ground Corn
Ground corn is a cereal grain which provides a modest amount of vitamins, minerals, and plant based protein. It also happens to be one of the most controversial ingredients in pet food.
Proponents of corn claim that corn is highly digestible and an excellent source of protein, energy, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids.
Opponents however believe that positive claims in regards to corn are either half-truths or completely false, we'll discuss a few of the opposing arguments.
In regards to digestibility, the claims of "highly digestible" are only true if corn is processed into a meal or flour and subsequently cooked. In regards to the protein contribution, we must note that corn is a plant based protein which does not contain all of the necessary amino acids required by pets to sustain life. Therefore substituting corn for meat is an unsuitable substitution and actually degrades the overall protein quality of the product.
Finally, we'll discuss the claims about vitamins and minerals in corn. Although corn does provide many vitamins and minerals, it not necessarily an exceptional ingredient in this regards. There are many other ingredients which are more complete and biologically appropriate. Therefore the usage of corn as the primary ingredient in pet food should certainly warrant further questioning.
Dried Tomato Pomace
Dried Tomato Pomace
Dried tomato pomace is a by-product of tomato manufacturing. It's considered a controversial ingredient because many people believe it is an inexpensive low quality filler. However, tomato pomace provides a notable amount of dietary fiber, B vitamins, Lycopene, and vitamin A. Although it is a very inexpensive ingredient, it is not nutritionally empty.
Here are some of the controversial ingredients used only by Kirkland Signature.
Powdered Cellulose
Powdered Cellulose
Powdered cellulose is produced from minuscule pieces of wood pulp and plant fibers. Other than its fiber content, powdered cellulose lacks any nutritional contribution.
Organic Canola Meal
Organic Canola Meal
Organic canola meal is a high protein by-product of canola oil production. This ingredient is marked controversial because it may be derived from genetically modified rapeseed, which is associated with multiple adverse health affects.
Organic Pea Protein
Organic Pea Protein
Organic pea protein is produced by removing the starchy parts of peas. Pea protein is considered controversial because it provides a substantial plant based protein boost. This boost is undesirable because plant based protein is typically lower in biological value when compared to meat based proteins.
Organic Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Organic Canola Oil (Preserved With Mixed Tocopherols)
Organic canola oil is a plant-derived oil from the seeds of canola plants. Although fat is an essential component of any diet, canola oil is controversial in pet food. Proponents claim that canola oil provides a better fat profile in comparison to other plant based oils. However, opponents claim that canola oil is typically produced with genetically modified rapeseed and that rapeseed oil has multiple adverse health affects.
Product Safety: Recall History of Blackwood & Kirkland Signature?
According to our records, neither brand has issued any product recalls. Therefore, consumers have no reason to question the safety of Blackwood or Kirkland Signature pet food products.
Disclosure: PawDiet has an affiliate relationship with stores featured (or linked-to) in this article. We are compensated for referring customers. Thank you for shopping with our retail partners!
Where To Buy Blackwood Pet Foods
You can purchase Blackwood pet foods from the following stores:
28 Recipes In-Stock Today
23 Recipes In-Stock Today
Where To Buy Kirkland Signature Pet Foods
You can purchase Kirkland Signature pet food products from these retailers:
Type Of Pet Foods Available
Product
Blackwood
Kirkland Signature
Dry Dog Food
13 Recipes
12 Recipes
Wet Dog Food
4 Recipes
1 Recipes
Dog Treats
7 Treats
None
Dry Cat Food
9 Recipes
3 Recipes
Wet Cat Food
4 Recipes
None
Cat Treats
None
None
Top Rated Blackwood Recipes
Dog Food
Blackwood All Life Stages Special Diet - Lamb Meal & Brown Rice Recipe