CovaminoSoy 2.0 & CovaminoRap 2.0 Win Silver at EuroTier 2026

A new generation of rumen-protected soybean and rapeseed proteins receives international recognition for combining high rumen protection with excellent intestinal digestibility. Both products are internationally represented by Cropenta.

Efficient protein nutrition in dairy cattle requires more than simply providing a high crude protein content. What matters is how much dietary protein escapes degradation in the rumen and remains available for digestion and amino acid absorption in the small intestine.

CovaminoSoy 2.0 and CovaminoRap 2.0 represent a new generation of rumen-protected protein ingredients developed specifically to address this nutritional challenge.

The innovation received the Silver Innovation Award at EuroTier 2026, with the international expert jury of the German Agricultural Society (DLG) recognising FeedValid B.V. for its Covamino 2.0 technology.

Cropenta acts as the international commercial agent for Bypass CovaminoSoy 2.0 and CovaminoRap 2.0 and is the primary commercial contact for customers in countries outside the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

What Are CovaminoSoy 2.0 and CovaminoRap 2.0?

The Covamino 2.0 product range comprises two specialised protein ingredients for ruminant nutrition:

• CovaminoSoy 2.0: Treated soybean protein with enhanced rumen protection.
• CovaminoRap 2.0: Treated rapeseed protein with enhanced rumen protection.

Both products are designed to reduce microbial degradation of dietary protein in the rumen while maintaining high digestibility in the small intestine.

A high percentage of rumen-undegraded protein (RUP), often referred to as bypass protein, does not automatically indicate superior nutritional value. Protein that escapes ruminal degradation must also remain digestible in the small intestine to contribute amino acids to the animal's metabolism.

The combination of effective rumen protection and high intestinal digestibility is therefore central to the nutritional value of both products.

Why Did Covamino 2.0 Win the EuroTier 2026 Silver Innovation Award?

The independent DLG Innovation Commission recognised Covamino 2.0 for its innovative approach to protecting dietary proteins against degradation in the rumen.

The technology uses a precisely controlled, multi-stage Maillard reaction. During this process, reducing sugars react with protein components, modifying their properties and reducing their susceptibility to microbial degradation in the rumen.

According to the official DLG evaluation, an important distinguishing feature is the targeted control of the Maillard reaction, with particular attention to the melanoidin stage associated with protein protection.

At the same time, the treatment process must avoid excessive heating and carbonisation, which can negatively affect protein digestibility and nutritional value.

The technological objective is therefore not simply to maximise rumen protection, but to achieve a balance between:

• Reduced microbial protein degradation in the rumen.
• Preservation of high intestinal protein digestibility.
• Consistent nutritional quality through controlled processing.

The technology is applied without the addition of formaldehyde.

The EuroTier Silver Innovation Award recognises this approach to producing rumen-protected protein ingredients for modern dairy nutrition.

Scientifically Evaluated by ILVO and Schothorst Feed Research

The nutritional properties of Covamino 2.0 have been investigated through research involving ILVO in Belgium and Schothorst Feed Research in the Netherlands.

At ILVO, the ruminal degradation characteristics of the treated proteins were evaluated using in situ/in sacco methods involving live rumen-cannulated cows.

In addition, the intestinal digestibility of the rumen-undegraded protein was assessed using the mobile nylon bag technique.

Schothorst Feed Research subsequently used the experimental results for the nutritional evaluation of the protein ingredients.

This research approach is particularly relevant because it provides a scientific basis for assessing both rumen protection and intestinal digestibility, rather than relying solely on a declared bypass protein percentage.

For feed manufacturers and dairy nutritionists, these characteristics are essential when evaluating the potential contribution of a protein ingredient to the metabolizable protein supply of dairy cattle.

CovaminoSoy 2.0: Rumen-Protected Soybean Protein

CovaminoSoy 2.0, internationally represented by Cropenta as Bypass CovaminoSoy 2.0, is designed for dairy rations requiring an efficient supply of digestible protein from soybean ingredients.

Available technical research data indicate:

• Approximately 83% rumen-undegraded protein (RUP).
• Approximately 99% intestinal digestibility of the rumen-undegraded protein.

The combination of these characteristics is nutritionally significant.

A substantial proportion of the dietary protein escapes degradation in the rumen, while the protected protein retains very high digestibility in the small intestine.

Bypass CovaminoSoy 2.0 can therefore be considered by dairy nutritionists seeking to optimise the supply of intestinally digestible protein and amino acids within properly balanced rations.

CovaminoRap 2.0: Rumen-Protected Rapeseed Protein

CovaminoRap 2.0 applies the same technological approach to rapeseed protein.

Rapeseed meal is an important protein ingredient in European dairy nutrition. By controlling ruminal protein degradation, a greater proportion of dietary protein can potentially remain available for subsequent intestinal digestion.

Available technical research data indicate:

• Approximately 80% rumen-undegraded protein (RUP).
• Approximately 90% intestinal digestibility of the rumen-undegraded protein.

These characteristics make CovaminoRap 2.0 a relevant option for dairy nutritionists, compound feed manufacturers and distributors seeking rumen-protected rapeseed protein with high intestinal digestibility.

The product provides an additional opportunity to evaluate rapeseed-based protein sources in advanced dairy ration formulations.

What Do These Nutritional Characteristics Mean for Dairy Cattle?

Efficient protein nutrition in dairy cattle depends on the balance between rumen-degradable protein, microbial protein synthesis, rumen-undegraded dietary protein and the availability of amino acids in the small intestine.

Increasing rumen protection can be beneficial when metabolizable protein or specific amino acids are limiting factors in the diet.

However, providing more bypass protein does not automatically result in higher milk production or increased milk protein yield.

The nutritional response depends on several factors, including the overall ration composition, energy supply, rumen fermentation conditions, amino acid balance and the requirements of the animals.

For this reason, CovaminoSoy 2.0 and CovaminoRap 2.0 should be evaluated according to their contribution to the complete dairy ration rather than solely on their RUP percentages.

A more targeted protein supply may also create opportunities to improve nitrogen-use efficiency and reduce unnecessary nitrogen losses. Whether these benefits are achieved depends on the formulation and nutritional balance of the complete diet.

What Does the EuroTier Silver Innovation Award Mean for the Feed Industry?

The EuroTier Innovation Award is presented by an independent innovation commission appointed by the German Agricultural Society (DLG).

At EuroTier 2026, 175 innovations were recognised, including 26 Silver Innovation Awards.

The Silver Innovation Award for Covamino 2.0 provides international recognition of an innovative protein treatment technology.

For the feed industry, its significance lies particularly in the combination of three characteristics:

• A precisely controlled protein protection process.
• High rumen protection of dietary protein.
• Preservation of high intestinal protein digestibility.

The award recognises the technological innovation and its potential relevance to modern livestock nutrition. It should not be interpreted as a guarantee of improved milk production under all feeding conditions.

CovaminoSoy 2.0 and CovaminoRap 2.0: International Representation Through Cropenta

Cropenta acts as the international commercial agent for Bypass CovaminoSoy 2.0 and CovaminoRap 2.0, representing these products in markets outside the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany.

For customers in these international markets, Cropenta is the primary commercial point of contact for enquiries about both protein ingredients.

Cropenta supports compound feed manufacturers, dairy nutrition specialists, distributors, commercial partners and professional dairy farming operations seeking specialised rumen-protected protein ingredients.

Our role is to facilitate international commercial cooperation and supply arrangements, providing access to technical product documentation, information on availability and pricing based on required volumes and delivery destinations.

The EuroTier 2026 Silver Innovation Award brings additional international recognition to the technology behind these products.

Interested in Bypass CovaminoSoy 2.0 or CovaminoRap 2.0?

Whether you are a compound feed manufacturer evaluating new protein ingredients, a distributor interested in commercial cooperation or a professional dairy operation seeking specialised protein sources, Cropenta can assist with your enquiry.

Contact Cropenta for:

• Technical product documentation and nutritional information.
• International product availability and supply opportunities.
• Commercial cooperation and distribution possibilities.
• Pricing based on required volumes and delivery destinations.

For enquiries from countries outside the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany, contact Cropenta as your international commercial representative for Bypass CovaminoSoy 2.0 and CovaminoRap 2.0.

Visit www.cropenta.com for further information.

References

• German Agricultural Society (DLG), Innovation Award EuroTier 2026: Winners, official jury evaluation of Covamino 2.0.
• EuroTier 2026, official Innovation Award winners.
• ILVO, Belgium, in situ/in sacco protein degradation research and intestinal digestibility assessment.
• Schothorst Feed Research, Netherlands, nutritional evaluation of the Covamino 2.0 protein ingredients.

This article was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the Cropenta editorial team. It is general information, not professional advice.