Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Great Plains

Raising Alpacas in Nebraska

Nebraska has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfa): summer highs average 87°F in July and winter lows average 14°F in January, with about 26 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are summer heat, barber pole worm and hard winters.

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

Statewide snapshot

81/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
87°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
14°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~20Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~153Frost nights per year (state average)
26 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
5Barber pole worm months (state average)
14Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
10°0.030°1.250°2.370°3.590°4.7Jan: 0.5 inJanFeb: 0.7 inFebMar: 1.4 inMarApr: 2.6 inAprMay: 4.1 inMayJun: 3.9 inJunJul: 3.4 inJulAug: 3.1 inAugSep: 2.3 inSepOct: 2.0 inOctNov: 1.0 inNovDec: 0.8 inDecJan high: 36°FFeb high: 40°FMar high: 52°FApr high: 62°FMay high: 72°FJun high: 82°FJul high: 87°FAug high: 85°FSep high: 78°FOct high: 64°FNov high: 50°FDec high: 38°FJan low: 14°FFeb low: 17°FMar low: 27°FApr low: 36°FMay low: 47°FJun low: 58°FJul low: 62°FAug low: 60°FSep low: 51°FOct low: 38°FNov low: 26°FDec low: 17°F°Fin

Average of 93 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 Aug
  • Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (May–Sep)
  • Hard winters — average lows under 15 °F in Jan

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Kimball County — 91/100
  2. Scotts Bluff County — 88/100
  3. Banner County — 87/100
  4. Morrill County — 87/100
  5. Arthur County — 86/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Jefferson County — 72/100
  2. Richardson County — 73/100
  3. Nuckolls County — 74/100
  4. Thayer County — 74/100
  5. Webster County — 74/100

All 93 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
Adams County8715221466May1479
Antelope County8512121575May1485
Arthur County8715191674May1486
Banner County8816201773May1487
Blaine County8713191645May1481
Boone County8513121535May1485
Box Butte County8714181813May1685
Boyd County8712191585May1481
Brown County8713191655May1481
Buffalo County8714191536May1479
Burt County8612151465May1482
Butler County8614161426Apr1483
Cass County8715191346Apr1480
Cedar County8511111565May1482
Chase County9016331594May1481
Cherry County8713171714May1483
Cheyenne County8916241694May1485
Clay County8815221426Apr1478
Colfax County8613151465May1485
Cuming County8512131505May1482
Custer County8614171625May1485
Dakota County8511141535May1479
Dawes County8815221743May1484
Dawson County8714201584May1483
Deuel County8915261634May1485
Dixon County8511111555May1479
Dodge County8613161445Apr1482
Douglas County8614171366Apr1480
Dundy County9116391544May1481
Fillmore County8815221386Apr1478
Franklin County8915301465May1476
Frontier County8915301564May1479
Furnas County9015361515May1476
Gage County8815251346Apr1475
Garden County8814211704May1479
Garfield County8612141615May1485
Gosper County8815251534May1482
Grant County8614161744May1483
Greeley County8613141565May1485
Hall County8714191486May1483
Hamilton County8715181436May1483
Harlan County9016331465May1476
Hayes County9016321574May1485
Hitchcock County9116401515May1479
Holt County8612151615May1485
Hooker County8714171714May1486
Howard County8714181516May1483
Jefferson County8916281337Apr1472
Johnson County8715221346Apr1479
Kearney County8815231495May1477
Keith County8916251594May1485
Keya Paha County8812191655May1477
Kimball County8715181843May1691
Knox County8612151565May1485
Lancaster County8715221366Apr1476
Lincoln County8814231624May1479
Logan County8714181665May1481
Loup County8613161635May1485
Madison County8512131535May1485
McPherson County8714181684May1486
Merrick County8714181466May1483
Morrill County8815241713May1487
Nance County8614161486May1483
Nemaha County8715221306Apr1479
Nuckolls County8916281406Apr1474
Otoe County8715211336Apr1476
Pawnee County8815231336Apr1475
Perkins County8915271604May1485
Phelps County8815231514May1479
Pierce County8512121575May1485
Platte County8613151485May1485
Polk County8614171436Apr1483
Red Willow County9116381535May1476
Richardson County8816241287Apr1473
Rock County8612161665May1485
Saline County8815231376Apr1478
Sarpy County8614191356Apr1480
Saunders County8714181396Apr1480
Scotts Bluff County8915271762May1488
Seward County8715191396Apr1483
Sheridan County8613161764May1683
Sherman County8614171555May1485
Sioux County8713181873May1685
Stanton County8512131515May1485
Thayer County8816271366Apr1474
Thomas County8713191665May1481
Thurston County8512131515May1482
Valley County8613151595May1485
Washington County8614151396Apr1480
Wayne County8511111555May1485
Webster County8915301436May1474
Wheeler County8512131595May1485
York County8715191416Apr1483

Typical alpaca care calendar for Nebraska

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

January 36° / 14°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 40° / 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).

March 52° / 27°F

FrostVitamin D
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • 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 62° / 36°F

Meningeal worm
  • 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.
  • CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
  • Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.

May 72° / 47°F

ShearingWorm seasonMeningeal wormCria season
  • 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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 82° / 58°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 87° / 62°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormBreeding
  • 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.
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 85° / 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 78° / 51°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 64° / 38°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 50° / 26°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 38° / 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 Nebraska

  • Shearing: May.
  • Best months for crias to be born: May–Jun (breed in Jun–Jul).
  • Heat precautions: 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: This area is at the western edge of the meningeal worm range. Risk is real where deer and snails share wet, wooded pastures.
  • Selenium: Most forage here supplies adequate selenium, and some western areas have high-selenium plants — avoid stacking selenium supplements.

Alpaca farms & shops in Nebraska

No alpaca farms in Nebraska are mapped on OpenStreetMap yet.

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Nebraska?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Nebraska scores 81/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat, barber pole worm and hard winters.
Which part of Nebraska is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Kimball County, Scotts Bluff County and Banner County; the most challenging are Jefferson County, Richardson County and Nuckolls County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Nebraska?
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 Nebraska?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is May–Jun. For births then, breed females in Jun–Jul (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Nebraska?
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 Nebraska?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Aug. We estimate about 20 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

ColoradoKansasMissouriSouth DakotaArkansasIowa

See how these guides are calculated.