bunch of questions concerning livestock and ranching

[KevinL]

Hello ranchers

I'm writing you today in need of some answers concerning livestock and ranching... but let me start differently: unlike you all I'm no rancher at all, in fact I'm from the city, so it happens I don't really know much about ranching and livestock.
I'm planning on writing some sort of novel that takes place on a Montana ranch. So I had two opportunities - ignoring all livestock-related things or getting some information.
Ignoring won't work, as all the characters in the novel work on the ranch and the atmosphere just won't come up if I leave it out.
So I searched the internet and found some answers to my questions, but there are still a few.
Maybe you all are the right ones to ask.

The size of the ranch is about 2900 acres. It's supposed to be a cow/calf operation - i haven't figured out yet how many cattle would be realistic to have there. Any suggestions?
Do you know any good websites about cow/calf operation? Everything I found was just confusing.
I just need the basics in order to understand the work that is done on the ranch.

The ranch is supposed to work beef cattle - is it realistic to keep dairy cattle as well? Or would a rancher just keep one or the other?
How about sheep, bees and other animals - would this be combined with the cattle? Or would it be too much work?

How many horses and hands are there likely to be on such a big ranch?

I appreciate every answer, thanks for your time!

[per]

A good way to find these things out would be to experience them. Find a similar sized ranch in Montana and spend a cycle there. You will get all your answers, experience character development and develop character. I can't imagine having answers to a bunch of academic questions will give you the ability to capture the essence of Ranching enough to captivate an audience sufficiently.

[Big Muddy rancher]

[Horseless]

By the questions you are asking I hope that you don't write this novel for a while. It may take you a while to become educated. But I am skeptical of how you will portray ranching. But if you are going to write, I am glad you are going to do some research.
Before I answer some of your questions I also have some questions. How was this ranch acquired? Was it an out of state person that moved in and bought it or has it been in the family for generations? Tell us more about your story of this novel.
In my area of eastern Montana, 2,900 acres would run from 85 to 95 pairs and 4 bulls for 7 months and feed hay the rest. It would run even less cows if you are able to graze longer, keep replacements or have horses. By no means a big ranch, it would mostly likely be a hobby farm. It would take one person to run it, with the spouse and mostly likely both work off the place. In this senerio, much of the work would done in the early morning hours, late evening and weekends.

[gcreekrch]

[Big Muddy rancher]

Oh ya in Montana a 2,900 acre spread is pretty small by most standards, probably just the rancher and a wife or maybe just a one man operation.

[efb]

[quote="KevinL"]Hello ranchers

Ignoring won't work, as all the characters in the novel work on the ranch and the atmosphere just won't come up if I leave it out.


The only way to get the "atomosphere to come up" is to go out there and live it. Then your book will have the atmoshpere and accuracy that you are looking for and a purpose other than entertainment for others in the city whose only perception of ranching is books like you are proposing. If you will do the ground work your book has the potential to do good as well as entertain. However, too many today are not guided by facts and do a great disservice.

[burnt]

Why does Oldtimer's spread come to mind?

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

I agree. Go spend a cycle on a ranch somewhere in the area your book will be based on. Then you'll have a feel for what really goes on, on a ranch, day to day basis. From calving, branding, to haying, to feeding, to sale of those calves. Not to mention fencing and all the other chores in between.

For example...how are you gonna know what goes on durin branding if you haven't ever experienced it. The sights sounds, and smells alone will be worth the experience when it comes to writing about it.

[Kato]

Some things you just have to experience in person.

There are lots of ranches that offer vacation packages, if a proper move to a ranch is out of the question. Contact the tourism people in whatever state you're interested in. Your book will be so much better if you've seen the lifestyle up close, and felt what it's like for yourself. I bet you would even find it's a lot easier to write. If it's ranch people reading it, they'll pick up right away whether you've been there done that.

There is so much to it that can't be learned in a conversation, or from reading about it. Besides, spending some time on a real ranch would be a terrific experience all on it's own.

[Clarencen]

I don't know what kind of a noval you have in mind,or what the theme or idea behind it might be, but whatever you do, get two or three times more information about ranching then you need before you start. If I were writing such a book I would put in a lot of effort in describing the characteristics of the ranch family members as well as that of the people working on the ranch and in th community.

There are so many variations of ranches it is hard to tell you anything of the working operation of a 2900 acre ranch. A ranch that size in Montana might also grow some wheat or other grain, it might have some land planted to tame hay, maybe even some irrigation. Might even be hard to make a living on 2900 acres. Maybe you want to write of how someone struggles to make a go of a small ranch.

If you are interested enough to do the ground work for a noval, go for it.

[KevinL]

Wow, thanks for all of your anwers!

I think you're right, I should experience ranch-life in order to get a feeling for it. At least some feeling. I will keep that in mind.

I had no idea 2900 acres was way too small for the ranch I was thinking about - thanks for bringing that up, this was quite useful.

The suggestion came up I should wait a while writing this novel - yeah, I guess so. I really shouldn't write about what I don't know. That's a major writing rule I was totally ignoring.

As to the question what the novel was about, it's supposed to tell the story of a family that runs a ranch for generations, and about how they make a living.
Man. I'd be better off telling a story about a family in the city. I'd know what to write.

Well, thanks for your answers - I got a few things clear now