Tony Bruinje

Assistant Professor of Dairy Production

Email 605-688-5486

Biography

I'm passionate about integrating science with practice to support decision-making based on evidence in dairy production.

My research program focuses on dairy cattle health, reproduction and the application of precision technologies to improve management and sustainability of dairy production. I'm interested in developing strategies to monitor and support the adaptation of cows from the pre- to the postpartum periods and in better understanding the links among transition cow health, fertility and productivity.

Education

BVM (DVM equivalent) | Mackenzie University-FEPAR, PR, Brazil | 2014
M.S. in animal science | University of Alberta | 2017
Ph.D. in population medicine | University of Guelph | 2023

Academic and Professional Experience

Academic Responsibilities

DS 130 – Introduction to Dairy Science
DS 480/580 and DS 481/581 – Dairy Farm Operations I and II
DS 312 – Dairy Breeding and Evaluation

Committees and Professional Memberships

Member of the American Dairy Science Association
Program Chair of the Dairy Cattle Reproduction Council
Editorial Board Member of Journal of Dairy Science (JDS) Communications
Co-Editor of the MDPI topic “Veterinary Reproductive Physiology, Endocrinology, Management and Diseases” for the journals Animals, Dairy, Metabolites and Veterinary Sciences

Research and Scholarly Work

Areas of Research

Metabolic health and inflammation in transition cows
Reproductive health and performance
Epidemiology
Precision technologies

Publications

S. Borchardt, T.A. Burnett, T.C. Bruinjé and A.M.L. Madureira. (2025). Using automated activity monitoring to detect resumption of cyclicity in early lactation – Meta-analysis. JDS Communications 6:705-709 DOI: 10.3168/jdsc.2025-0785.
G. Dodd, F. Schenkel, F. Miglior, T.C. Bruinjé, M. Gobikrushanth, J. Carrelli, O. Masahito, D.J. Ambrose and C. Baes. (2025). Potential of anogenital distance as a genetic selection trait in Canadian Holsteins. Journal of Dairy Science 108:5114–5124 2025 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2024-26021.
T.C. Bruinjé and S.J. LeBlanc. (2025). Invited review: Inflammation and health in the transition period influence reproductive function in dairy cows. Animals, 15, 633, DOI: 10.3390/ ani15050633.
T.C. Bruinjé, D.J. Ambrose and S.J. LeBlanc. (2024). Symposium review: In-line milk progesterone monitoring as a tool for precision reproductive management. JDS Communications, 6:267-271. DOI: 10.3168/jdsc.2024-0649.
T.C. Bruinjé and S.J. LeBlanc. (2024). Graduate student literature review: Implications of transition cow health for reproductive function and targeted reproductive management. Journal of Dairy Science 107:8234-46 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24562.
T.C. Bruinjé, E.I. Morrison, E.S. Ribeiro, D.L. Renaud and S.J. LeBlanc. (2024). Progesterone profiles in postpartum dairy cows with inflammatory disorders. Journal of Dairy Science 107:7153-64. DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24604.
T.C. Bruinjé, L. Campora, B. Van Winters and S.J. LeBlanc. (2024). Effects of systemic or uterine endotoxin challenge in Holstein cows at five or 40 days postpartum on clinical responses, uterine and systemic inflammation and milk yield. Journal of Dairy Science 107:7392-7404 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24497.
T.C. Bruinjé, E.I. Morrison, E.S. Ribeiro, D.L. Renaud and S.J. LeBlanc. (2024). Associations of postpartum health with progesterone after insemination and endocrine signaling during early pregnancy in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 107:3168-3184 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-24068.
R. Couto Serrenho, E. Morrison, T.C. Bruinjé and S.J. LeBlanc. (2023). Assessment of systemic inflammation following oral calcium supplementation in healthy postpartum multiparous dairy cows — A randomized controlled trial. JDS Communications 5:134-138 DOI: 10.3168/jdsc.2023-0438.
T.C. Bruinjé, E.I. Morrison, E.S. Ribeiro, D.L. Renaud and S.J. LeBlanc. (2024). Associations of postpartum health with early pregnancy and early pregnancy loss in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 107:1630-1644. DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23976.
T.C. Bruinjé, E.I. Morrison, E.S. Ribeiro, D.L. Renaud, R. Couto Serrenho and S.J. LeBlanc. Postpartum health is associated with detection of estrus by activity monitors and reproductive performance in dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 106:9451-9473 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23268.
R. Couto Serrenho, T.C. Bruinjé, E. Morrison, T. DeVries, T. Duffield and S. LeBlanc. (2021). Controlled trial of the effect of negative dietary cation-anion difference prepartum on milk production, reproductive performance and culling of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 104:6919-28 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-19390.
O. Bogado Pascottini, T.C. Bruinjé, R. Couto Serrenho, B. Mion and S.J. LeBlanc. (2021). Association of metabolic markers with neutrophil function in healthy postpartum dairy cows. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology 232:110182 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2020.110182.
Rita Couto Serrenho, Tony C. Bruinjé, Emma I. Morrison, David L. Renaud, Trevor J. DeVries, Todd F. Duffield and Stephen. J. LeBlanc. (2021). Validation of a point-of-care handheld blood total calcium analyzer in postpartum dairy cows. JDS Communications. 2:41-5 DOI: 10.3168/jdsc.2020-0006.
R. Couto Serrenho, T.C. Bruinjé, E. Morrison, T. DeVries, T. Duffield and S. LeBlanc. (2021). Controlled trial of the effect of negative dietary cation-anion difference on postpartum health of dairy cows. Journal of Dairy Science 104:6929-43. DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-19389.
T.C. Bruinjé, J.P. Rosadiuk, F. Moslemipur, H. Sauerwein, M.A. Steele and D.J. Ambrose. (2021). Differing planes of pre- and postweaning phase nutrition in Holstein heifers: II. Effects on circulating leptin, luteinizing hormone and age at puberty. Journal of Dairy Science 104:1153-63 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18810.
J.P. Rosadiuk, T.C. Bruinjé, F. Moslemipur, A.J. Fischer-Tlustos, D.L. Renaud, D.J Ambrose and M.A. Steele. (2021). Differing planes of pre- and postweaning phase nutrition in Holstein heifers: I. Effects on feed intake, growth efficiency and metabolic and development indicators. Journal of Dairy Science 104:1136-52 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2020-18809.
T.C. Bruinjé, J.P. Rosadiuk, F. Moslemipur, J.E. Carrelli, M.A. Steele and D.J. Ambrose. (2019). Carryover effects of pre- and postweaning planes of nutrition on reproductive tract development and estrous cycle characteristics in Holstein heifers. Journal of Dairy Science 102:10514–10529 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2019-16249.
T.C. Bruinjé, P. Ponce-Barajas, A. Dourey, M.G., Colazo, T. Caldwell, Z. Wang, S.P. Miller, D.J. Ambrose. (2019). Morphology, membrane integrity and mitochondrial function in sperm of crossbred beef bulls selected for residual feed intake. Canadian Journal of Animal Science 99:456-464 DOI: 10.1139/cjas-2018-0103.
W. Shi, C.E. Knoblock, K.V. Murphy, T.C. Bruinjé, I. Yoon, D.J. Ambrose and M. Oba. (2019). Effects of supplementing a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product during periparturient period on performance of dairy cows fed fresh diets differing in starch content. Journal of Dairy Science 102:3082-3096 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2018-15307.
T.C. Bruinjé and D.J Ambrose. (2019). Technical note: Validation of an automated in-line milk progesterone analysis system to diagnose pregnancy in dairy cattle. Journal of Dairy Science 102:3615–3621 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2018-15692 (M.S. thesis).
M. Gobikrushanth, D.C. Purfield, J. Kenneally, R.C. Doyle, S.A. Holden, P.M. Martinez, E. Rojas Canadas, T.C. Bruinjé, M.G. Colazo, D.J. Ambrose and S.T. Butler. (2019). The relationship between anogenital distance and fertility, and genomewide associations for anogenital distance in Irish Holstein-Friesian cows. Journal of Dairy Science 102:1702–1711 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2018-15552.
T.C. Bruinjé, M.G. Colazo, E.S. Ribeiro, M. Gobikrushanth and D.J. Ambrose. (2019). Using in-line milk progesterone data to characterize parameters of luteal activity and their association with fertility in Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 102:780-798. DOI: 10.3168/jds.2018-14654 (M.S. thesis).
M. Gobikrushanth, T.C. Bruinjé, M.G. Colazo, S.T. Butler and D.J. Ambrose. (2017). Characterization of ano-genital distance and its relationship to fertility in lactating Holstein cows. Journal of Dairy Science 100:9815–23 (Editor's Choice Award) DOI: 10.3168/jds.2017-13033.
T.C. Bruinjé, M.G. Colazo, M. Gobikrushanth and D.J. Ambrose. (2017). Relationships among early postpartum luteal activity, parity and insemination outcomes based on in-line milk progesterone profiles in Canadian Holstein cows. Theriogenology 100:32–41 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.05.021 (M.S. thesis).
T.C. Bruinjé, M. Gobikrushanth, M.G. Colazo and D.J. Ambrose. (2017). Dynamics of pre- and postinsemination progesterone profiles and insemination outcomes determined by an in-line milk analysis system in primiparous and multiparous Canadian Holstein cows. Theriogenology 102:147–153 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.05.024 (M.S. thesis).
M. Gobikrushanth, P.A. Dutra, T.C. Bruinjé, M.G. Colazo, S.T. Butler and D.J. Ambrose. (2017). Characterization of the variability and repeatability of gonadotropin releasing hormone-induced luteinizing hormone responses in dairy cows within a synchronized ovulation protocol. Journal of Dairy Science. 100:6753–62 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2016-12529.
M. Gobikrushanth, P.A. Dutra, T.C. Bruinjé, M.G. Colazo, S.T. Butler and D.J. Ambrose. (2017). Repeatability of antral follicle counts and anti-Müllerian hormone and their associations determined at an unknown stage of follicular growth and an expected day of follicular wave emergence in dairy cows. Theriogenology 92:90–94. DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2017.01.018.

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