Climate snapshot for alpacas
79/100Alpaca climate comfort score
94°FAverage high, Jul
38°FAverage low, Dec
~73Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~17Frost nights per year
12 inAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
16Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jun–Sep
- Dry climate — only 12 in of rain — irrigated pasture or year-round hay
Advantages
- Practically frost-free winters
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 79/100 — Good on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Cold semi-arid (Köppen BSk).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 56°F | 39°F | 2.5 in | 137 · ok | grass |
| Feb | 62°F | 42°F | 2.1 in | 142 · ok | grass |
| Mar | 67°F | 44°F | 1.8 in | 143 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 73°F | 47°F | 0.9 in | 144 · ok | grass |
| May | 81°F | 53°F | 0.5 in | 135 · caution | — |
| Jun | 89°F | 59°F | 0.1 in | 125 · caution | — |
| Jul | 94°F | 63°F | 0.0 in | 122 · caution | — |
| Aug | 93°F | 62°F | 0.0 in | 125 · caution | — |
| Sep | 89°F | 59°F | 0.1 in | 128 · caution | — |
| Oct | 79°F | 51°F | 0.6 in | 121 · caution | — |
| Nov | 65°F | 43°F | 1.0 in | 129 · ok | grass |
| Dec | 56°F | 38°F | 2.0 in | 136 · ok | grass |
Heat-stress index = average high (°F) + mean humidity (%). “Worms” marks months that suit barber pole worm transmission; “grass” marks the grazing season; “frost” marks months with average lows below freezing. Source: NOAA nClimDiv 1991–2020 county normals.
Alpaca care calendar for Merced County, California
January 56° / 39°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
February 62° / 42°F
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
March 67° / 44°F
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 73° / 47°F
- Secure winter hay: about 16 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
May 81° / 53°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 89° / 59°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
July 94° / 63°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 93° / 62°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
September 89° / 59°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 79° / 51°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
November 65° / 43°F
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
December 56° / 38°F
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
Key recommendations
- Shearing: March.
- Best months for crias to be born: Oct–Jan (breed in Nov–Feb).
- Heat precautions: Jun–Sep.
- Barber pole worm: low transmission risk on average — still run fecal egg counts in spring and autumn.
- Winter: frost is rare.
- Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
- Grazing season: Nov–Apr (about 6 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
- Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm is not established in this region.
- Selenium: Selenium levels vary across the state. Test hay or blood before changing supplements.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near Merced County, California are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet. If you keep alpacas here, consider adding your farm to OpenStreetMap — it will appear on this page after the next update.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in Merced County, California?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Merced County, California scores 79/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and dry climate.
When should alpacas be shorn in Merced County, California?
Plan shearing for March, once nights stay above about 38°F (3°C) but before summer heat builds.
What is the best time for crias to be born in Merced County, California?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Oct–Jan. For births then, breed females in Nov–Feb (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Merced County, California?
With roughly 6 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 766 lb (347 kg) — around 16 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Merced County, California?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jun–Sep. We estimate about 73 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 37.195, -120.723 · land area 1,938 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to California.