Climate snapshot for alpacas
95/100Alpaca climate comfort score
83°FAverage high, Jul
17°FAverage low, Dec
~9Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~185Frost nights per year
15 inAnnual precipitation
3Barber pole worm months
18Hay bales / alpaca / year
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 95/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Oceanic (temperate) (Köppen Cfb).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 47°F | 17°F | 0.9 in | 112 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 51°F | 20°F | 0.9 in | 106 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 57°F | 24°F | 0.8 in | 105 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 64°F | 29°F | 0.5 in | 97 · ok | frost |
| May | 73°F | 36°F | 0.5 in | 99 · ok | — |
| Jun | 83°F | 45°F | 0.5 in | 118 · ok | — |
| Jul | 83°F | 52°F | 2.8 in | 126 · caution | worms, grass |
| Aug | 80°F | 51°F | 3.1 in | 122 · caution | worms, grass |
| Sep | 76°F | 44°F | 2.0 in | 118 · ok | worms, grass |
| Oct | 67°F | 33°F | 1.1 in | 100 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 56°F | 24°F | 0.9 in | 108 · ok | frost |
| Dec | 47°F | 17°F | 1.1 in | 87 · 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 Catron County, New Mexico
January 47° / 17°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
February 51° / 20°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
March 57° / 24°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 64° / 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.
May 73° / 36°F
- 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 83° / 45°F
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- 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).
- Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
July 83° / 52°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.
- 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.
August 80° / 51°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.
- 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).
September 76° / 44°F
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
October 67° / 33°F
- Secure winter hay: about 18 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
November 56° / 24°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
December 47° / 17°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
Key recommendations
- Shearing: June.
- Best months for crias to be born: May–Aug (breed in Jun–Sep).
- Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
- Barber pole worm season: Jul–Sep — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Nov–Apr — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
- Grazing season: Jul–Oct (about 4 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.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near Catron County, New Mexico 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 Catron County, New Mexico?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Catron County, New Mexico scores 95/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale.
When should alpacas be shorn in Catron County, New Mexico?
Plan shearing for June, 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 Catron County, New Mexico?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is May–Aug. For births then, breed females in Jun–Sep (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Catron County, New Mexico?
With roughly 8 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 900 lb (408 kg) — around 18 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
Nearby counties
Coordinates 33.902, -108.392 · land area 6,924 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to New Mexico.