Fig. 3.

Standardized pathway diagram calculated with a structural equation model of antepartal hormones in pluriparous dairy cows. The standardized path coefficients appear over or next to the respective pathways represented by arrows (p < 0.05). Endogenous dependent variables are shown in rectangles (LogIGF-I = logarithmic transformed insulin-like growth factor-I, LogGH = logarithmic transformed growth hormone, LogT3 = logarithmic transformed triiodothyronine, T4 = thyroxine. LogInsulin = logarithmic transformed insulin, LogE2 = logarithmic transformed 17β-estradiol, P4 = progesterone, HF = Holstein Frisian). The exogenous independent variable appears in the rectangle in the middle of the diagram (time = day -43 to 0 calving) while exogenous variables errors are shown in circles (e = error: eIGF-I = error of IGF-I, eIn = error of insulin, eT3 = error of T3, eP4 = error of P4, eGH = error of GH, eE2 = error of E2, eT4 = error of T4). Double-headed errors denoted these covariances. Model of squared multiple correlations were calculated and R-square values appear next to the rectangles containing the variables.