Climate snapshot for alpacas
65/100Alpaca climate comfort score
90°FAverage high, Jul
25°FAverage low, Jan
~39Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~82Frost nights per year
47 inAnnual precipitation
7Barber pole worm months
12Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in May–Aug
- Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (Apr–Oct)
- Meningeal worm — white-tailed deer parasite is established in this region
Advantages
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- A long grazing season (9 months of grass growth)
Overall rating: 65/100 — Good on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 25°F | 2.4 in | 118 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 51°F | 29°F | 2.3 in | 112 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 60°F | 37°F | 3.8 in | 124 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 70°F | 46°F | 4.8 in | 130 · ok | worms, grass |
| May | 77°F | 55°F | 6.1 in | 152 · high | worms, grass |
| Jun | 85°F | 64°F | 4.7 in | 153 · high | worms, grass |
| Jul | 90°F | 68°F | 3.9 in | 164 · high | worms, grass |
| Aug | 89°F | 67°F | 3.6 in | 161 · high | worms, grass |
| Sep | 82°F | 58°F | 4.5 in | 147 · caution | worms, grass |
| Oct | 71°F | 47°F | 4.0 in | 123 · ok | worms, grass |
| Nov | 59°F | 37°F | 3.8 in | 133 · ok | grass |
| Dec | 49°F | 28°F | 2.9 in | 123 · ok | frost |
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 McDonald County, Missouri
January 46° / 25°F
- 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.
February 51° / 29°F
- 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).
March 60° / 37°F
- 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.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 70° / 46°F
- 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).
May 77° / 55°F
- 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.
June 85° / 64°F
- 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 90° / 68°F
- 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 89° / 67°F
- 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 82° / 58°F
- 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 71° / 47°F
- 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.
November 59° / 37°F
- Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
- Secure winter hay: about 12 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).
- Toenail check and trim.
December 49° / 28°F
- 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
- Shearing: April.
- Best months for crias to be born: Mar–Apr (breed in Apr–May).
- Heat precautions: May–Aug.
- Barber pole worm season: Apr–Oct — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Dec–Feb — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
- Grazing season: Mar–Nov (about 9 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.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near McDonald County, Missouri 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 McDonald County, Missouri?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. McDonald County, Missouri scores 65/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and meningeal worm.
When should alpacas be shorn in McDonald County, Missouri?
Plan shearing for April, 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 McDonald County, Missouri?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Mar–Apr. For births then, breed females in Apr–May (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in McDonald County, Missouri?
With roughly 3 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 565 lb (256 kg) — around 12 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in McDonald County, Missouri?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in May–Aug. We estimate about 39 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 36.628, -94.344 · land area 539 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Missouri.