Here's where it all started. Mind you, this link is Chapter 1 - the Keeping a Family Cow forum has had quite a lively discussion of fodder raising and feeding and it wouldn't make sense for me to lay out the details here - that forum is now up to 4 chapters regarding fodder feeding!
Because I don't like to spend much money before I try something new, I experimented with sprouting corn in gallon glass jars. I started
another thread on KFC regarding that.
I'm now feeding a ground mix (from grains we purchased, adding minerals, vitamins, and diatomaceous earth), cooked grains, beet pulp, and free choice alfalfa/grass mix hay. For the fall, I just have been too busy and sick (pneumonia) to do the work of raising fodder, but plan to go back to it once I'm feeling better and the farm is put to bed for the winter. My reasoning on cooking grains is that they are easier to digest than whole grains and I have a belief that different preparations of the grains make different nutrients available. Not sure if my beliefs are very sound, but the animals enjoy the blend they get, so I'm continuing. I'm cooking a blend of corn and barley.
IDK about adding minerals to the rinse water - I simply use well water and have excellent growth. I know that I have to rinse the sprouts/fodder very well before feeding it to my cow or she won't eat it - she's very fussy. The pigs, calves and chickens don't care.