Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · South Central

Raising Alpacas in Louisiana

Louisiana has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa): summer highs average 92°F in August and winter lows average 40°F in January, with about 60 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

52/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
92°FAverage high, Aug (state average)
40°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~73Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~9Frost nights per year (state average)
60 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
9Barber pole worm months (state average)
8Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
30°0.048°1.665°3.382°4.9100°6.5Jan: 5.7 inJanFeb: 4.7 inFebMar: 4.8 inMarApr: 5.2 inAprMay: 5.0 inMayJun: 5.6 inJunJul: 5.3 inJulAug: 5.1 inAugSep: 4.4 inSepOct: 4.5 inOctNov: 4.5 inNovDec: 5.2 inDecJan high: 60°FFeb high: 64°FMar high: 71°FApr high: 78°FMay high: 84°FJun high: 90°FJul high: 92°FAug high: 92°FSep high: 88°FOct high: 80°FNov high: 69°FDec high: 62°FJan low: 40°FFeb low: 43°FMar low: 49°FApr low: 56°FMay low: 64°FJun low: 71°FJul low: 73°FAug low: 72°FSep low: 67°FOct low: 56°FNov low: 47°FDec low: 42°F°Fin

Average of 64 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 May–Sep
  • Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (Mar–Nov)
  • Meningeal worm — white-tailed deer parasite is established in this region
  • Wet ground — 60 in of rain a year — mud, foot problems and fluke habitat

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Bossier Parish — 58/100
  2. Caddo Parish — 58/100
  3. De Soto Parish — 58/100
  4. Webster Parish — 58/100
  5. Bienville Parish — 52/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Ascension Parish — 44/100
  2. Assumption Parish — 44/100
  3. Iberia Parish — 44/100
  4. Iberville Parish — 44/100
  5. Jefferson Parish — 44/100

All 64 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
Acadia Parish924275510Mar846
Allen Parish924074810Mar846
Ascension Parish924275511Mar844
Assumption Parish914373311Mar844
Avoyelles Parish933978109Mar848
Beauregard Parish924075810Mar846
Bienville Parish933674249Mar852
Bossier Parish943676229Mar858
Caddo Parish943778199Mar858
Calcasieu Parish924273410Mar846
Caldwell Parish933677209Mar852
Cameron Parish914463210Mar850
Catahoula Parish933877159Mar852
Claiborne Parish933469299Mar852
Concordia Parish933877139Mar852
De Soto Parish943778199Mar858
East Baton Rouge Parish924175710Mar846
East Carroll Parish923672199Mar852
East Feliciana Parish9239721010Mar846
Evangeline Parish924076810Mar846
Franklin Parish933777179Mar852
Grant Parish933878159Mar852
Iberia Parish914464311Mar844
Iberville Parish924275511Mar844
Jackson Parish933575259Mar852
Jefferson Davis Parish924274510Mar846
Jefferson Parish914565211Mar844
LaSalle Parish933877169Mar852
Lafayette Parish924275510Mar846
Lafourche Parish914664211Mar844
Lincoln Parish933572279Mar852
Livingston Parish924076710Mar846
Madison Parish933774179Mar852
Morehouse Parish933573249Mar852
Natchitoches Parish943780169Mar852
Orleans Parish904461310Mar850
Ouachita Parish933676239Mar852
Plaquemines Parish904654111Mar848
Pointe Coupee Parish924076810Mar846
Rapides Parish9339781110Mar846
Red River Parish943679209Mar852
Richland Parish933676209Mar852
Sabine Parish943778179Mar852
St. Bernard Parish904554210Mar850
St. Charles Parish924473311Mar844
St. Helena Parish9239721110Mar846
St. James Parish924375411Mar844
St. John the Baptist Parish924275411Mar844
St. Landry Parish924176710Mar846
St. Martin Parish924273411Mar844
St. Mary Parish904461211Mar848
St. Tammany Parish914170710Mar846
Tangipahoa Parish924074910Mar846
Tensas Parish933776169Mar852
Terrebonne Parish904663111Mar844
Union Parish933572279Mar852
Vermilion Parish914467310Mar846
Vernon Parish933976129Mar852
Washington Parish9239721110Mar846
Webster Parish933573259Mar858
West Baton Rouge Parish924176610Mar846
West Carroll Parish933673219Mar852
West Feliciana Parish924074910Mar846
Winn Parish933778199Mar852

Typical alpaca care calendar for Louisiana

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

January 60° / 40°F

Meningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • 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.

February 64° / 43°F

Meningeal wormBreeding
  • 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.
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).

March 71° / 49°F

ShearingWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 78° / 56°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.

May 84° / 64°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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 90° / 71°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.

July 92° / 73°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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 92° / 72°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 88° / 67°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.
  • CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 80° / 56°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormCria season
  • 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.

November 69° / 47°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • 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.

December 62° / 42°F

Meningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • 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).

Key recommendations for Louisiana

  • Shearing: March.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Oct–Jan (breed in Nov–Feb).
  • Heat precautions: May–Sep.
  • Barber pole worm season: Mar–Nov — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Winter: frost is rare.
  • Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
  • Grazing season: year-round (about 12 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 Louisiana

No alpaca farms in Louisiana are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet.

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Louisiana?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Louisiana scores 52/100 (fair) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
Which part of Louisiana is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Bossier Parish, Caddo Parish and De Soto Parish; the most challenging are Ascension Parish, Assumption Parish and Iberia Parish.
When should alpacas be shorn in Louisiana?
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 Louisiana?
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 Louisiana?
With roughly 0 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 365 lb (166 kg) — around 8 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Louisiana?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in May–Sep. We estimate about 73 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

ArkansasMississippiOklahomaAlabamaKansasMissouri

See how these guides are calculated.