Collagen Protein vs Whey Protein: Which is Better? What Are Whey Proteins and Collagen Peptides? Whey protein is a by-product of the cheese-making process. The collagen peptides used in collagen supplements are usually derived from cows. Bovine collagen is made from the connective tissue of cows. Thus, collagen is one of the main ingredients in beef bone broth. David Robinson, PhD UK Fitness ProJun 3 · 6 min read