Local alpaca guide · Oklahoma

Raising Alpacas in Cimarron County, Oklahoma

Cimarron County, Oklahoma has a cold semi-arid climate (Köppen BSk): summer highs average 92°F in July and winter lows average 21°F in January, with about 17 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are summer heat.

Climate snapshot for alpacas

83/100Alpaca climate comfort score
92°FAverage high, Jul
21°FAverage low, Jan
~49Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~134Frost 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
20°0.040°1.060°2.080°3.0100°4.0Jan: 0.4 inJanFeb: 0.3 inFebMar: 0.9 inMarApr: 1.3 inAprMay: 1.8 inMayJun: 2.1 inJunJul: 2.9 inJulAug: 2.9 inAugSep: 1.5 inSepOct: 1.4 inOctNov: 0.5 inNovDec: 0.6 inDecJan high: 49°FFeb high: 53°FMar high: 61°FApr high: 69°FMay high: 78°FJun high: 88°FJul high: 92°FAug high: 89°FSep high: 82°FOct high: 71°FNov high: 59°FDec high: 49°FJan low: 21°FFeb low: 23°FMar low: 30°FApr low: 38°FMay low: 48°FJun low: 58°FJul low: 63°FAug low: 61°FSep low: 53°FOct low: 40°FNov low: 29°FDec low: 21°F°Fin
MonthHighLowPrecip.Heat-stress indexNotes
Jan49°F21°F0.4 in116 · okfrost
Feb53°F23°F0.3 in114 · okfrost
Mar61°F30°F0.9 in123 · okgrass, frost
Apr69°F38°F1.3 in128 · okgrass
May78°F48°F1.8 in146 · cautiongrass
Jun88°F58°F2.1 in149 · cautionworms, grass
Jul92°F63°F2.9 in150 · highworms, grass
Aug89°F61°F2.9 in146 · cautionworms, grass
Sep82°F53°F1.5 in142 · cautiongrass
Oct71°F40°F1.4 in117 · okgrass
Nov59°F29°F0.5 in130 · okfrost
Dec49°F21°F0.6 in114 · okfrost

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 Cimarron County, Oklahoma

January 49° / 21°F

FrostVitamin D
  • 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 53° / 23°F

FrostVitamin D
  • 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 61° / 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.
  • Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 69° / 38°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° / 48°F

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

June 88° / 58°F

HeatWorm seasonBreeding
  • 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 92° / 63°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 89° / 61°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.

September 82° / 53°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 71° / 40°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 59° / 29°F

FrostVitamin D
  • 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 49° / 21°F

FrostVitamin D
  • 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: 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–Mar — keep water from freezing.
  • Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
  • Grazing season: Mar–Oct (about 8 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
  • Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm is uncommon this far west but cases occur near the edge of its range.
  • 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 Cimarron County, Oklahoma 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 Cimarron County, Oklahoma?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Cimarron County, Oklahoma scores 83/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat.
When should alpacas be shorn in Cimarron County, Oklahoma?
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 Cimarron County, Oklahoma?
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 Cimarron County, Oklahoma?
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 Cimarron County, Oklahoma?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jun–Aug. We estimate about 49 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Nearby counties

Coordinates 36.748, -102.518 · land area 1,835 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Oklahoma.