Barcelos et al., 2001. Rev. Bras. Zootec., 30 (4): 1325-1331

It was evaluated the caffeine contents of caffeine, tannins, lignin and silica in the hull and pulp of coffee of cultivars Catuaí, Rubi, Mundo Novo. Pulp was obtained by moist pulping in a mechanical pulper and dried in the sun adjusted to 13% moisture. Materials were stored in raffia bag in environment free of moisture and ventilated with samplings every 90 days. The quadratic effect shown increased caffeine content along 360 day storage, this increase was of 11,7% along 12 months. Tannin content was reduced linearly along the storage. The values of tannin were of 2.77% compared with 1.70% in the materials without storage. The reduction was of 38.6% in one year period. Lignin contents were reduced linearly in 2.6% for lignin percentage in DM (11.7 to 11.4%) and 5.8% in the lignin percentage of NDF (10.4 to 9.8%) in the materials with no storage compared to 12-month storage. There was a significant difference between the hull and pulp for the variable silica. Increased value of silica in the hull, compared to the pulp may be due to the presence of parchment in this material, since this pulp does no possess it. The storage of hull and pulp for a 12-month period improves the qualities of these materials since it reduced tannin and lignin contents. The values of caffeine found are limiting in the use of great amounts of those materials for ruminants.