Ross:
I suspect the set-up was for poultry, rather the other livestock. At one time sprouting seeds (which is basically what this process is) was a fad to provide green feed to confinement poultry. As I recall the seeds were placed on some type of digestible mat material and kept slightly moist. As the seeds germinated the roots would grow into the matting. When ready it would be fed out mat and all.
I believe grow lights and a tray system was used. If you can find suitable trays (such as old cafeteria trays), a rack system (perhaps homemade), mat material (perhaps a couple of layers of white paper towels with the seeds under the top layer) and obtain grow lights, perhaps a single tier system might be feasible for production on a small scale for someone in a climate where poultry (and perhaps small livestock, such as rabbits or small goats) don't have access to any pasture during the winter season.
Ken S. in WC TN