Climate snapshot for alpacas
92/100Alpaca climate comfort score
88°FAverage high, Jul
19°FAverage low, Jan
~26Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~150Frost nights per year
16 inAnnual precipitation
2Barber pole worm months
14Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jul
Advantages
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 92/100 — 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 | 48°F | 19°F | 0.4 in | 113 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 51°F | 21°F | 0.3 in | 107 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 59°F | 28°F | 0.8 in | 107 · ok | frost |
| Apr | 66°F | 35°F | 1.1 in | 98 · ok | grass |
| May | 75°F | 44°F | 1.8 in | 101 · ok | grass |
| Jun | 85°F | 54°F | 1.9 in | 121 · caution | grass |
| Jul | 88°F | 59°F | 3.0 in | 132 · caution | worms, grass |
| Aug | 86°F | 58°F | 3.0 in | 127 · caution | worms, grass |
| Sep | 79°F | 50°F | 1.7 in | 121 · caution | grass |
| Oct | 68°F | 38°F | 1.1 in | 102 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 57°F | 27°F | 0.5 in | 108 · ok | frost |
| Dec | 48°F | 20°F | 0.5 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 Union County, New Mexico
January 48° / 19°F
- 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.
February 51° / 21°F
- 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 59° / 28°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 66° / 35°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.
May 75° / 44°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.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 85° / 54°F
- 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.
- 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 88° / 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).
- Toenail check and trim.
August 86° / 58°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.
September 79° / 50°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 68° / 38°F
- 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.
November 57° / 27°F
- 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 48° / 20°F
- 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
- Shearing: May.
- Best months for crias to be born: May–Jun (breed in Jun–Jul).
- 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 for crias: Nov–Feb.
- Grazing season: Apr–Oct (about 7 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 Union 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 Union County, New Mexico?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Union County, New Mexico scores 92/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat.
When should alpacas be shorn in Union County, 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 Union County, New Mexico?
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 Union County, New Mexico?
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 Union County, New Mexico?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul. We estimate about 26 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 36.488, -103.476 · land area 3,825 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to New Mexico.