Climate snapshot for alpacas
83/100Alpaca climate comfort score
91°FAverage high, Jul
24°FAverage low, Jan
~51Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~111Frost nights per year
17 inAnnual precipitation
3Barber pole worm months
13Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jun–Aug
Advantages
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- A long grazing season (8 months of grass growth)
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 83/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Cold semi-arid (Köppen BSk).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52°F | 24°F | 0.5 in | 117 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 56°F | 27°F | 0.4 in | 112 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 64°F | 33°F | 0.9 in | 112 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 72°F | 40°F | 0.8 in | 105 · ok | grass |
| May | 81°F | 50°F | 1.7 in | 107 · ok | grass |
| Jun | 90°F | 59°F | 2.1 in | 126 · caution | worms, grass |
| Jul | 91°F | 63°F | 2.8 in | 135 · caution | worms, grass |
| Aug | 89°F | 62°F | 2.8 in | 131 · caution | worms, grass |
| Sep | 82°F | 55°F | 2.0 in | 124 · caution | grass |
| Oct | 72°F | 43°F | 1.9 in | 106 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 61°F | 32°F | 0.5 in | 112 · ok | frost |
| Dec | 52°F | 25°F | 0.6 in | 91 · 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 Curry County, New Mexico
January 52° / 24°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
February 56° / 27°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
March 64° / 33°F
- 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.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 72° / 40°F
- 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.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
May 81° / 50°F
- 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).
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 90° / 59°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.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
July 91° / 63°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.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 89° / 62°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.
September 82° / 55°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 72° / 43°F
- Secure winter hay: about 13 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 61° / 32°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
December 52° / 25°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
Key recommendations
- Shearing: April.
- Best months for crias to be born: Apr–May (breed in May–Jun).
- Heat precautions: Jun–Aug.
- Barber pole worm season: Jun–Aug — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Nov–Feb — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
- Grazing season: Mar–Oct (about 8 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 Curry 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 Curry County, New Mexico?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Curry County, New Mexico scores 83/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat.
When should alpacas be shorn in Curry County, New Mexico?
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 Curry County, 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 Curry County, New Mexico?
With roughly 4 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 632 lb (287 kg) — around 13 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Curry County, New Mexico?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jun–Aug. We estimate about 51 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 34.573, -103.346 · land area 1,406 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to New Mexico.