How Is Collagen Sourced From Animals?: An In-Depth Look

December 1, 2025 •

3 min read

Collagen is the most abundant protein in the animal kingdom, representing roughly 30% of the body's total protein content. Understanding how is collagen sourced from animals reveals the complex, multi-stage industrial process that transforms animal by-products into the versatile supplement ingredient found in many health and wellness products.

Quick Summary

Collagen is extracted from animal by-products like hides, bones, scales, and cartilage through a multi-stage process. This includes pre-treatment, hydrolysis using heat, acid, or enzymes, and subsequent purification to produce gelatin or easily absorbed hydrolyzed collagen peptides.

Key Points

Sourcing Raw Materials: Collagen is primarily sourced from animal by-products, including bovine hides and bones, fish skin and scales, and chicken cartilage.
Multi-Stage Extraction: The extraction process involves cleaning and pre-treating raw materials, followed by hydrolysis using heat, acids, or enzymes to break down the collagen protein into smaller molecules.
Hydrolyzation for Bioavailability: Further enzymatic hydrolysis converts gelatin into smaller, more easily absorbed collagen peptides, also known as hydrolyzed collagen.
Different Animal, Different Collagen: The source impacts the type of collagen, with bovine and marine being rich in Type I, while poultry provides Type II for joint health.
Sustainability Focus: Modern production methods often focus on using by-products from the meat and fishing industries, which helps to reduce waste and improve sustainability.
Product Purification: The final stages of production involve extensive filtration, purification, and drying to ensure the finished product is a high-quality, pure powder.

Common Animal Sources for Collagen

Commercial collagen production leverages the natural abundance of this structural protein in various animal tissues. By-products from the meat and fishing industries are the primary raw materials, providing a sustainable way to utilize parts that would otherwise go to waste. The type of animal determines the primary types of collagen present in the final product.

Bovine Collagen

Sourced from cows, bovine collagen is one of the most common types on the market. It is primarily derived from the hides, bones, and tendons of cattle. This source is rich in Type I and Type III collagen, which are beneficial for skin, bones, muscles, and blood vessels. Production often utilizes hides from the beef industry that might otherwise be discarded.

Marine Collagen

Marine collagen is sourced from fish, using the skin, scales, and bones, and sometimes from invertebrates like jellyfish. This source is prized for its high concentration of Type I collagen and is often considered highly bioavailable due to its smaller particle size. It is a popular alternative for those with dietary restrictions concerning mammalian products.

Poultry Collagen

Typically derived from chicken cartilage, bones, and skin, poultry collagen is a significant source of Type II collagen. This type of collagen is a major component of cartilage and is therefore often marketed for joint health supplements.

Porcine Collagen

Sourced from pigskin and bones, porcine collagen contains a mixture of Type I and Type III collagen, similar to bovine sources. It is widely used in both the food and pharmaceutical industries due to its good biocompatibility.

The Multi-Step Extraction Process

The transformation of raw animal materials into a usable collagen powder or liquid is a detailed and carefully controlled manufacturing process. The general procedure involves several key stages designed to isolate and break down the collagen protein.

Step-by-Step Production of Hydrolyzed Collagen

Raw Material Preparation: Raw materials, such as hides, bones, or scales, are thoroughly cleaned to remove non-collagenous material like fat, hair, and minerals. This often involves soaking in an alkaline solution and washing.
Hydrolysis (Gelatin Production): The pre-treated material is heated in water, often with the addition of acids or alkalis, to break down the collagen's triple-helix structure into smaller, water-soluble gelatin molecules.
Enzymatic Hydrolysis (Collagen Peptides): The gelatin is further treated with specific proteolytic enzymes, such as pepsin or alcalase, under controlled pH and temperature conditions. This enzymatic step breaks the gelatin into even smaller, more bioavailable collagen peptides.
Filtration and Purification: The resulting liquid is filtered to remove remaining impurities and concentrated to increase the peptide density.
Evaporation and Drying: The concentrated liquid is sterilized, and water is removed through evaporation and spray-drying, resulting in a fine, soluble powder.
Packaging and Quality Control: The final product is tested for quality and packaged for sale as supplements or food ingredients.

Comparison of Major Animal Collagen Sources


Feature	Bovine Collagen	Marine Collagen	Poultry Collagen
Primary Types	Type I & III	Type I	Type II
Sourced From	Hides, bones, tendons	Skin, scales, bones	Cartilage, bones
Key Benefits	Supports skin, bone, muscle, ligaments	Highly bioavailable, skin elasticity	Joint and cartilage health
Absorption Rate	Good	High (lower molecular weight)	Standard
Common Use	Powders, capsules for general wellness	Skin health supplements, peptides	Joint support capsules
Allergen Concern	Generally low	Shellfish allergy risk	Less common

Ethical and Sustainability Considerations

With increased consumer awareness, the ethical and environmental impact of collagen sourcing is gaining attention. Many companies now focus on sourcing from by-products of existing industries, such as beef or fishing, to reduce waste. This approach, known as 'waste valorization', turns low-value by-products into high-value nutraceuticals. Some marine sources are also lauded for being highly sustainable when sourced from wild-caught species that utilize otherwise discarded fish scales. Consumers can look for transparency from brands regarding their sourcing practices to make informed choices that align with their values.

Conclusion

The process of how is collagen sourced from animals is a sophisticated and highly controlled industrial procedure. It leverages a variety of animal by-products to create a valuable and highly sought-after ingredient for dietary supplements and other products. From the initial cleaning of raw materials to the final enzymatic hydrolysis and purification, each step is critical to producing a quality product. By understanding the different animal sources—including bovine, marine, and poultry—and their unique collagen profiles, consumers can select a product best suited to their individual health goals and ethical considerations.

Visit the NIH website for more in-depth research on collagen extraction methods.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common animals used for commercial collagen production are cows (bovine), fish (marine), pigs (porcine), and chickens (poultry). The specific parts used include hides, bones, scales, and cartilage.

Gelatin is partially broken-down collagen produced by heating animal tissues. Hydrolyzed collagen is further processed with enzymes to create smaller peptides, which makes it more bioavailable and easily absorbed by the body.

Strict safety protocols are used to mitigate risks. Collagen is often sourced from the hides, rather than parts with higher risk, and the high-temperature and chemical processes used during extraction are effective in inactivating pathogens.

No, collagen types vary by source. For example, bovine collagen is rich in Type I and III, marine collagen is primarily Type I, and poultry collagen is a key source of Type II. Each type offers different benefits.

Marine collagen can be highly sustainable, particularly when sourced from fish industry by-products that would otherwise be discarded. However, many bovine collagen producers also use waste materials like hides, making both potentially sustainable depending on the specific company's practices.

Hydrolyzing collagen breaks the large protein molecules into smaller, easier-to-digest peptides. This significantly improves the body's absorption and utilization of the collagen, making it more effective for supplementation.

The diet and living conditions of the animal can influence the properties of the extracted collagen. For example, some manufacturers focus on sourcing from grass-fed cattle to ensure a high-quality, traceable product.