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!