Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Midwest

Raising Alpacas in Iowa

Iowa has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa): summer highs average 84°F in July and winter lows average 11°F in January, with about 36 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team

Statewide snapshot

74/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
84°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
11°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~9Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~147Frost nights per year (state average)
36 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
5Barber pole worm months (state average)
14Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
10°0.030°1.550°3.070°4.590°6.0Jan: 1.0 inJanFeb: 1.2 inFebMar: 2.0 inMarApr: 3.7 inAprMay: 4.9 inMayJun: 5.3 inJunJul: 4.2 inJulAug: 4.1 inAugSep: 3.5 inSepOct: 2.7 inOctNov: 1.8 inNovDec: 1.4 inDecJan high: 28°FFeb high: 33°FMar high: 46°FApr high: 60°FMay high: 71°FJun high: 81°FJul high: 84°FAug high: 82°FSep high: 75°FOct high: 62°FNov high: 46°FDec high: 33°FJan low: 11°FFeb low: 15°FMar low: 26°FApr low: 37°FMay low: 49°FJun low: 59°FJul low: 63°FAug low: 60°FSep low: 52°FOct low: 40°FNov low: 28°FDec low: 17°F°Fin

Average of 99 county normals (NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020). Conditions vary a lot within the state — open your county below.

Statewide challenges

  • Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jul–Aug
  • Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (May–Sep)
  • Meningeal worm — white-tailed deer parasite is established in this region
  • Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Jan

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Des Moines County — 77/100
  2. Van Buren County — 77/100
  3. Lee County — 75/100
  4. Adair County — 74/100
  5. Adams County — 74/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Buena Vista County — 68/100
  2. Cerro Gordo County — 68/100
  3. Cherokee County — 68/100
  4. Chickasaw County — 68/100
  5. Clay County — 68/100

All 99 counties

Click a column to sort. Temperatures in °F; “worm months” follow Gordon's bioclimatograph for barber pole worm.

CountyPeak highLowest lowDays ≥90°FFrost nightsWorm monthsShearHay balesScore
Adair County8412111465May1474
Adams County8513131425Apr1474
Allamakee County82951535May1471
Appanoose County8514141325Apr1474
Audubon County841191515May1474
Benton County831081495May1471
Black Hawk County83981525May1471
Boone County8411101475May1474
Bremer County82961565May1471
Buchanan County83971545May1471
Buena Vista County83981575May1468
Butler County83971545May1471
Calhoun County84991525May1471
Carroll County841091515May1471
Cass County8512121455May1474
Cedar County841291415Apr1474
Cerro Gordo County82851575May1468
Cherokee County84991575May1468
Chickasaw County82851615May1468
Clarke County8513141395Apr1474
Clay County83881605May1468
Clayton County82951525May1471
Clinton County841391385Apr1474
Crawford County841091505May1474
Dallas County8512121425Apr1474
Davis County8615151315Apr1474
Decatur County8614151355Apr1474
Delaware County821061525May1471
Des Moines County8515141285Apr1477
Dickinson County83761625May1468
Dubuque County821161475May1474
Emmet County82761605May1468
Fayette County82851585May1471
Floyd County82851575May1468
Franklin County82961555May1471
Fremont County8615191326Apr1468
Greene County8410101495May1474
Grundy County831071525May1471
Guthrie County8411111485May1474
Hamilton County831081525May1471
Hancock County82861595May1468
Hardin County831071525May1471
Harrison County8512141445Apr1474
Henry County8514141325Apr1474
Howard County81741655May1468
Humboldt County83871555May1468
Ida County841091535May1471
Iowa County8412111455May1474
Jackson County831281425May1474
Jasper County8412111415Apr1474
Jefferson County8514131355Apr1474
Johnson County8412111425Apr1474
Jones County831281455May1474
Keokuk County8513131405Apr1474
Kossuth County83761585May1468
Lee County8616161246Apr1475
Linn County841191475May1474
Louisa County8514141335Apr1474
Lucas County8514141375Apr1474
Lyon County84781635May1468
Madison County8513131415Apr1474
Mahaska County8513131385Apr1474
Marion County8513141365Apr1474
Marshall County841191475May1474
Mills County8614171356Apr1468
Mitchell County81741615May1468
Monona County8511131485May1474
Monroe County8514131345Apr1474
Montgomery County8514141386Apr1472
Muscatine County8413121365Apr1474
O'Brien County83881625May1468
Osceola County83771655May1468
Page County8614161346Apr1472
Palo Alto County83871575May1468
Plymouth County8410101565May1468
Pocahontas County83881565May1468
Polk County8513121385Apr1474
Pottawattamie County8513141405Apr1474
Poweshiek County841291455May1474
Ringgold County8514131375Apr1474
Sac County83981535May1471
Scott County8414111345Apr1474
Shelby County8411101485May1474
Sioux County84891615May1468
Story County8411101455May1474
Tama County831081505May1471
Taylor County8514131366Apr1472
Union County8513121425Apr1474
Van Buren County8615151315Apr1477
Wapello County8514141335Apr1474
Warren County8613141365Apr1474
Washington County8513121385Apr1474
Wayne County8514141355Apr1474
Webster County83981525May1471
Winnebago County82751605May1468
Winneshiek County82841605May1468
Woodbury County8510121525May1471
Worth County81741605May1468
Wright County83871575May1468

Typical alpaca care calendar for Iowa

Based on statewide averages — your county page has a calendar tuned to local conditions.

January 28° / 11°F

Hard coldVitamin D
  • Hard cold: extra hay at night, heated water, windbreaks and coats for crias or seniors; check ears for frostbite.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
  • Toenail check and trim.

February 33° / 15°F

FrostVitamin D
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).

March 46° / 26°F

FrostVitamin D
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 60° / 37°F

Meningeal wormCria season
  • Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
  • Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.

May 71° / 49°F

ShearingWorm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • 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).
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 81° / 59°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • 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).

July 84° / 63°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal wormBreeding
  • Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 82° / 60°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

September 75° / 52°F

Worm seasonMeningeal worm
  • Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 62° / 40°F

Meningeal wormVitamin D
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Secure winter hay: about 14 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
  • Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).

November 46° / 28°F

FrostVitamin D
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
  • Toenail check and trim.

December 33° / 17°F

FrostVitamin D
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).

Key recommendations for Iowa

  • Shearing: May.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Apr–Jun (breed in May–Jul).
  • Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
  • Barber pole worm season: May–Sep — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Nov–Mar — keep water from freezing.
  • Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
  • Grazing season: Apr–Oct (about 7 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
  • Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm (carried by white-tailed deer) is established in this region and is a leading cause of neurological disease in alpacas. Talk to your vet about a prevention plan for the snail season.
  • Selenium: Selenium levels vary across the state. Test hay or blood before changing supplements.

Alpaca farms & shops in Iowa

Alpaca Rides

From OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL). Listing is not an endorsement.

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Iowa?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Iowa scores 74/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of Iowa is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Des Moines County, Van Buren County and Lee County; the most challenging are Buena Vista County, Cerro Gordo County and Cherokee County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Iowa?
Plan shearing for May, 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 Iowa?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Apr–Jun. For births then, breed females in May–Jul (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Iowa?
With roughly 5 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 699 lb (317 kg) — around 14 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Iowa?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 9 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

IndianaMinnesotaMissouriSouth DakotaArkansasIllinois

See how these guides are calculated.