Climate snapshot for alpacas
79/100Alpaca climate comfort score
91°FAverage high, Jun
26°FAverage low, Jan
~53Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~97Frost nights per year
12 inAnnual precipitation
2Barber pole worm months
18Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jun–Aug
- Dry climate — only 12 in of rain — irrigated pasture or year-round hay
Advantages
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 79/100 — Good 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 | 54°F | 26°F | 0.6 in | 119 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 59°F | 30°F | 0.5 in | 114 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 66°F | 34°F | 0.4 in | 114 · ok | — |
| Apr | 73°F | 41°F | 0.3 in | 106 · ok | — |
| May | 82°F | 49°F | 0.4 in | 108 · ok | — |
| Jun | 91°F | 58°F | 0.7 in | 127 · caution | — |
| Jul | 91°F | 63°F | 2.4 in | 134 · caution | worms, grass |
| Aug | 88°F | 61°F | 2.4 in | 130 · caution | worms, grass |
| Sep | 83°F | 55°F | 1.8 in | 125 · caution | grass |
| Oct | 74°F | 44°F | 1.0 in | 107 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 62°F | 33°F | 0.6 in | 114 · ok | — |
| Dec | 53°F | 26°F | 0.8 in | 93 · 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 Sierra County, New Mexico
January 54° / 26°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
February 59° / 30°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
March 66° / 34°F
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 73° / 41°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 82° / 49°F
- 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.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 91° / 58°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- 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).
- Dry pasture: supplement with hay as grass goes dormant; keep water troughs clean and full.
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.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 88° / 61°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 83° / 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 74° / 44°F
- Secure winter hay: about 18 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
November 62° / 33°F
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
- Toenail check and trim.
December 53° / 26°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: Jul–Aug — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Dec–Feb — 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 Sierra 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 Sierra County, New Mexico?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Sierra County, New Mexico scores 79/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and dry climate.
When should alpacas be shorn in Sierra 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 Sierra 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 Sierra 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.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Sierra County, New Mexico?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jun–Aug. We estimate about 53 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 33.119, -107.188 · land area 4,181 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to New Mexico.