Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Southwest

Raising Alpacas in New Mexico

New Mexico has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk): summer highs average 89°F in July and winter lows average 22°F in January, with about 14 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are summer heat and dry climate.

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

Statewide snapshot

92/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
89°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
22°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~34Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~133Frost nights per year (state average)
14 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
2Barber pole worm months (state average)
16Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
20°0.038°1.055°2.072°3.090°4.0Jan: 0.7 inJanFeb: 0.6 inFebMar: 0.7 inMarApr: 0.7 inAprMay: 1.0 inMayJun: 1.1 inJunJul: 2.5 inJulAug: 2.4 inAugSep: 1.8 inSepOct: 1.2 inOctNov: 0.7 inNovDec: 0.8 inDecJan high: 49°FFeb high: 54°FMar high: 62°FApr high: 69°FMay high: 78°FJun high: 88°FJul high: 89°FAug high: 86°FSep high: 80°FOct high: 70°FNov high: 58°FDec high: 49°FJan low: 22°FFeb low: 25°FMar low: 30°FApr low: 36°FMay low: 45°FJun low: 54°FJul low: 60°FAug low: 58°FSep low: 51°FOct low: 40°FNov low: 29°FDec low: 22°F°Fin

Average of 33 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
  • Dry climate — only 14 in of rain — irrigated pasture or year-round hay

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Cibola County — 96/100
  2. Colfax County — 96/100
  3. Los Alamos County — 96/100
  4. Sandoval County — 96/100
  5. Santa Fe County — 96/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Luna County — 74/100
  2. Doña Ana County — 76/100
  3. Eddy County — 79/100
  4. Sierra County — 79/100
  5. Bernalillo County — 83/100

All 33 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
Bernalillo County9021381332May1883
Catron County831791853Jun1895
Chaves County932674983Apr1683
Cibola County8616161782May1896
Colfax County821661812May1496
Curry County9124511113Apr1383
De Baca County9224611072Apr1684
Doña Ana County952885721Mar1876
Eddy County952990662Mar1679
Grant County8926341102May1792
Guadalupe County9023441252May1684
Harding County9020431392May1484
Hidalgo County942876862Apr2084
Lea County942782843Apr1683
Lincoln County8823331252May1692
Los Alamos County811851682May1496
Luna County962888832Apr2074
McKinley County8617181710May1895
Mora County821761783May1495
Otero County902747902Apr1788
Quay County9324611102Apr1384
Rio Arriba County821361902Jun1790
Roosevelt County9224591053Apr1483
San Juan County9019361500May1891
San Miguel County8821271403May1495
Sandoval County8718211612May1896
Santa Fe County8519141632May1696
Sierra County912653972Apr1879
Socorro County8922371312May1883
Taos County781212012Jun1690
Torrance County8720221572May1696
Union County8819261502May1492
Valencia County9222571280May1883

Typical alpaca care calendar for New Mexico

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

January 49° / 22°F

Frost
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
  • Toenail check and trim.

February 54° / 25°F

Frost
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.

March 62° / 30°F

Frost
  • 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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 69° / 36°F

Cria season
  • Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.

May 78° / 45°F

ShearingCria seasonBreeding
  • Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
  • 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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 88° / 54°F

Breeding
  • Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
  • Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.

July 89° / 60°F

HeatWorm season
  • 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.
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 86° / 58°F

Worm 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.

September 80° / 51°F

  • Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 70° / 40°F

  • Secure winter hay: about 16 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
  • Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.

November 58° / 29°F

Frost
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
  • Toenail check and trim.

December 49° / 22°F

Frost
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.

Key recommendations for New Mexico

  • Shearing: May.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Apr–May (breed in May–Jun).
  • Heat precautions: Jul.
  • Barber pole worm season: Jul–Aug — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Nov–Mar — keep water from freezing.
  • Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
  • Grazing season: May–Oct (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.

Alpaca farms & shops in New Mexico

Que Sera Alpacas

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

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in New Mexico?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. New Mexico scores 92/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and dry climate.
Which part of New Mexico is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Cibola County, Colfax County and Los Alamos County; the most challenging are Luna County, Doña Ana County and Eddy County.
When should alpacas be shorn in New Mexico?
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 New Mexico?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Apr–May. For births then, breed females in May–Jun (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in New Mexico?
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 New Mexico?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul. We estimate about 34 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

ArizonaColoradoKansasArkansasNebraskaOklahoma

See how these guides are calculated.