Abstract
The unique structure of the stomach, including the rumen, reticulum, omasum, and abomasum, indicates the differences between the ruminant and monogastric animals in the digestion of nutrients. This difference is reflected in the majority of dietary nutrients that may be fermented in the rumen. Significant proteins and a certain amount of starch can flow to the small intestine apart from rumen. The initial phase of small intestinal digestion requires pancreatic digestive enzymes. In theory, the enzymatic digestion and utilization efficiency of starch in the small intestine are considerably higher than that in the rumen, but the starch digestibility in the small intestine is quite low in ruminants. Therefore, improving the digestion of nutrients, especially starch in the small intestine is more urgent for high-yield ruminants. Although the pancreas plays a central role in nutrient digestion, the progress of research investigating pancreatic exocrine regulation in the ruminant is slow due to some factors, such as the complex structure of the pancreas, the selection of experimental model and duration, and internal (hormones or ages) and external (diet) influences. The present review is based on the research findings of pancreatic exocrine regulation of dairy animals and expounded from the physiological structure of the ruminant pancreas, the factors affecting the digestion and exocrine processing of carbohydrates, and the regulatory mechanism governing this process. The review aims to better understand the characteristics of enzymatic digestion, thereby advancing pancreatic exocrine research and improving the digestion and utilization of nutrients in ruminants. Additionally, this review provides the theoretical basis for improving nutrient utilization efficiency, reducing wastage of feed resources, and promoting the efficient development of the dairy industry.