Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · South Central

Raising Alpacas in Texas

Texas has a humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cfa): summer highs average 95°F in August and winter lows average 35°F in January, with about 32 inches of precipitation a year. The main challenges for alpaca keepers here are summer heat and barber pole worm.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team

Statewide snapshot

61/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
95°FAverage high, Aug (state average)
35°FAverage low, Jan (state average)
~87Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~25Frost nights per year (state average)
32 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
9Barber pole worm months (state average)
8Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
30°0.048°1.065°2.182°3.1100°4.2Jan: 2.0 inJanFeb: 1.9 inFebMar: 2.4 inMarApr: 2.5 inAprMay: 3.6 inMayJun: 3.4 inJunJul: 2.4 inJulAug: 2.6 inAugSep: 3.2 inSepOct: 3.1 inOctNov: 2.2 inNovDec: 2.2 inDecJan high: 59°FFeb high: 63°FMar high: 71°FApr high: 78°FMay high: 85°FJun high: 92°FJul high: 95°FAug high: 95°FSep high: 88°FOct high: 79°FNov high: 68°FDec high: 60°FJan low: 35°FFeb low: 39°FMar low: 46°FApr low: 52°FMay low: 62°FJun low: 69°FJul low: 72°FAug low: 71°FSep low: 65°FOct low: 54°FNov low: 44°FDec low: 36°F°Fin

Average of 254 county normals (NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020). Conditions vary a lot within the state — open your county below.

Statewide challenges

  • Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in May–Sep
  • Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (Mar–Nov)

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Andrews County — 82/100
  2. Gaines County — 82/100
  3. Pecos County — 80/100
  4. Dallam County — 79/100
  5. Dawson County — 79/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Hidalgo County — 45/100
  2. Burleson County — 46/100
  3. Fayette County — 46/100
  4. Lee County — 46/100
  5. Brooks County — 47/100

All 254 counties

Click a column to sort. Temperatures in °F; “worm months” follow Gordon's bioclimatograph for barber pole worm.

CountyPeak highLowest lowDays ≥90°FFrost nightsWorm monthsShearHay balesScore
Anderson County953783189Mar858
Andrews County953090601Mar1682
Angelina County943885149Mar858
Aransas County924774111Mar854
Archer County973192468Mar1053
Armstrong County942564905Apr1275
Atascosa County984211858Mar853
Austin County964297511Mar849
Bailey County9224611055Apr1375
Bandera County953886159Mar861
Bastrop County9740101910Mar849
Baylor County973195478Mar1053
Bee County974511229Mar851
Bell County963795178Mar853
Bexar County964110379Mar851
Blanco County953887159Mar856
Borden County953185494Mar1277
Bosque County963589239Mar851
Bowie County933470309Mar958
Brazoria County934576211Mar854
Brazos County9639941010Mar851
Brewster County9634107351Mar1673
Briscoe County942773795Apr1275
Brooks County984714016Mar847
Brown County963489329Mar851
Burleson County9639961010Mar846
Burnet County963792189Mar851
Caldwell County9740103810Mar849
Calhoun County924674111Mar854
Callahan County953380368Mar863
Cameron County965111705Mar863
Camp County943575259Mar858
Carson County9324581004Apr1377
Cass County933672239Mar858
Castro County9224551085Apr1375
Chambers County914565210Mar850
Cherokee County943780169Mar858
Childress County972891707Mar1254
Clay County963187469Mar1051
Cochran County922666945Apr1375
Coke County963291405Mar863
Coleman County953489328Mar853
Collin County953476279Mar958
Collingsworth County962678807Apr1263
Colorado County9642100411Mar849
Comal County96409499Mar856
Comanche County953485328Mar853
Concho County953391365Mar858
Cooke County953276379Mar956
Coryell County963691228Mar853
Cottle County972992626Mar1056
Crane County9732117400Mar1665
Crockett County943392335Mar971
Crosby County932869685Mar1075
Culberson County943180561Mar1677
Dallam County9221501323May1379
Dallas County963686209Mar848
Dawson County943080603Mar1279
DeWitt County9643106411Mar847
Deaf Smith County9223541144Apr1377
Delta County943475319Mar958
Denton County963483289Mar951
Dickens County952980605Mar1072
Dimmit County994213854Mar851
Donley County942670856Apr1270
Duval County984513125Mar849
Eastland County953283379Mar856
Ector County963199480Mar1670
Edwards County933677215Mar868
El Paso County9731101531Mar1863
Ellis County963687199Mar848
Erath County953482319Mar856
Falls County963793178Mar850
Fannin County943372349Mar958
Fayette County964199610Mar846
Fisher County963190445Mar958
Floyd County932761815Apr1275
Foard County973094567Mar1054
Fort Bend County954494311Mar854
Franklin County943474279Mar958
Freestone County953785189Mar853
Frio County984112675Mar853
Gaines County942880701Mar1382
Galveston County914662111Mar854
Garza County953084555Mar1070
Gillespie County943678228Mar863
Glasscock County953287444Mar1277
Goliad County9644110311Mar847
Gonzales County9741105611Mar847
Gray County932459966Apr1270
Grayson County943372339Mar958
Gregg County943679199Mar858
Grimes County964093910Mar851
Guadalupe County9740104710Mar849
Hale County922661905Apr1375
Hall County972889736Mar1256
Hamilton County953485289Mar856
Hansford County9423641104Apr1377
Hardeman County972992637Mar1054
Hardin County934181710Mar850
Harris County944487311Mar854
Harrison County943777189Mar858
Hartley County9222551223Apr1379
Haskell County973194466Mar956
Hays County9639941010Mar854
Hemphill County942464996Apr1270
Henderson County953681209Mar858
Hidalgo County984914505Mar845
Hill County963688198Mar853
Hockley County932669845Apr1375
Hood County963488279Mar851
Hopkins County943474279Mar958
Houston County953887149Mar853
Howard County953287444Mar1077
Hudspeth County952983691Mar1777
Hunt County943475279Mar958
Hutchinson County942568964Apr1377
Irion County953290415Mar868
Jack County963285399Mar951
Jackson County954492212Mar852
Jasper County9339781110Mar850
Jeff Davis County913154523Mar1679
Jefferson County924471310Mar850
Jim Hogg County984714115Mar849
Jim Wells County984612716Mar852
Johnson County953684219Mar851
Jones County963291416Mar956
Karnes County9743110410Mar849
Kaufman County953681229Mar853
Kendall County943882149Mar861
Kenedy County964911706Mar861
Kent County963090535Mar1058
Kerr County943576248Mar863
Kimble County943483315Mar868
King County973093567Mar1054
Kinney County9740110105Mar858
Kleberg County954810716Mar861
Knox County973096507Mar1054
La Salle County994313745Mar849
Lamar County943271369Mar958
Lamb County922561995Apr1375
Lampasas County963590248Mar853
Lavaca County9642100411Mar849
Lee County9639971010Mar846
Leon County953786169Mar853
Liberty County944283410Mar850
Limestone County963786188Mar855
Lipscomb County9423611075Apr1272
Live Oak County974411927Mar854
Llano County963697218Mar853
Loving County9830119551Mar1658
Lubbock County932769765Mar1275
Lynn County942973645Mar1275
Madison County9638901210Mar851
Marion County943677209Mar858
Martin County953189503Mar1279
Mason County953591277Mar859
Matagorda County934576111Mar854
Maverick County994113263Mar953
McCulloch County953488297Mar859
McLennan County963691188Mar853
McMullen County984312736Mar851
Medina County974010998Mar853
Menard County943383355Mar868
Midland County953296451Mar1373
Milam County963895149Mar848
Mills County953585278Mar858
Mitchell County963193465Mar963
Montague County953180439Mar1051
Montgomery County954291610Mar856
Moore County9324611074Apr1377
Morris County943573259Mar858
Motley County962982666Mar1065
Nacogdoches County943781169Mar858
Navarro County963687189Mar853
Newton County9339761010Mar850
Nolan County943280405Mar972
Nueces County954810817Mar859
Ochiltree County9423611075Apr1372
Oldham County9323621123Apr1379
Orange County924275510Mar850
Palo Pinto County963390359Mar851
Panola County943779189Mar858
Parker County963484319Mar851
Parmer County9224551105Apr1375
Pecos County953399390Mar1680
Polk County944084910Mar856
Potter County9324631024Apr1377
Presidio County953396382Mar1771
Rains County943575269Mar858
Randall County9224561044Apr1377
Reagan County953290414Mar973
Real County943777187Mar864
Red River County943370369Mar958
Reeves County9832116490Mar1660
Refugio County944695111Mar857
Roberts County942465985Apr1272
Robertson County963890148Mar855
Rockwall County953578239Mar858
Runnels County963292385Mar858
Rusk County943778179Mar858
Sabine County943879159Mar852
San Augustine County943879159Mar858
San Jacinto County944187710Mar856
San Patricio County954710018Mar863
San Saba County963690247Mar854
Schleicher County943383385Mar868
Scurry County953183474Mar969
Shackelford County963288388Mar953
Shelby County943777189Mar858
Sherman County9322611184Apr1377
Smith County943678219Mar858
Somervell County963588259Mar851
Starr County994815314Mar947
Stephens County963289409Mar951
Sterling County953286435Mar975
Stonewall County973195506Mar1056
Sutton County943482335Mar868
Swisher County922557975Apr1275
Tarrant County963588229Mar851
Taylor County953281386Mar966
Terrell County9634111301Mar1463
Terry County932874744Mar1277
Throckmorton County973293438Mar953
Titus County943474289Mar958
Tom Green County963394385Mar858
Travis County97381001210Mar849
Trinity County953888129Mar858
Tyler County9339791010Mar850
Upshur County943675229Mar858
Upton County953399351Mar1373
Uvalde County9639108117Mar854
Val Verde County9637109185Mar1061
Van Zandt County943576239Mar858
Victoria County9644101312Mar847
Walker County954089910Mar856
Waller County964296511Mar849
Ward County9831125490Mar1660
Washington County964096810Mar851
Webb County994514124Mar851
Wharton County954496311Mar849
Wheeler County942567917Apr1268
Wichita County973092538Mar1053
Wilbarger County983094558Mar1053
Willacy County965011905Mar863
Williamson County9638961410Mar849
Wilson County9742109510Mar849
Winkler County9730113550Mar1665
Wise County963384359Mar951
Wood County943575249Mar858
Yoakum County932771833Apr1379
Young County973291428Mar953
Zapata County1004715413Mar949
Zavala County994113075Mar849

Typical alpaca care calendar for Texas

Based on statewide averages — your county page has a calendar tuned to local conditions.

January 59° / 35°F

Meningeal worm
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
  • Toenail check and trim.

February 63° / 39°F

Meningeal wormCria season
  • Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.

March 71° / 46°F

ShearingWorm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • 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.

April 78° / 52°F

Worm seasonMeningeal wormCria seasonBreeding
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • 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).

May 85° / 62°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal wormBreeding
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 92° / 69°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

July 95° / 72°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 95° / 71°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

September 88° / 65°F

HeatWorm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 79° / 54°F

Worm seasonMeningeal worm
  • 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.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

November 68° / 44°F

Worm seasonMeningeal worm
  • Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
  • Toenail check and trim.

December 60° / 36°F

Meningeal worm
  • Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.

Key recommendations for Texas

  • Shearing: March.
  • Best months for crias to be born: Feb–Apr (breed in Mar–May).
  • Heat precautions: May–Sep.
  • Barber pole worm season: Mar–Nov — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Winter: frost is rare.
  • Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
  • Grazing season: year-round (about 12 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
  • Meningeal worm: This area is at the western edge of the meningeal worm range. Risk is real where deer and snails share wet, wooded pastures.
  • Selenium: Selenium levels vary across the state. Test hay or blood before changing supplements.

Alpaca farms & shops in Texas

Alpaca Ranch Retirement Center

From OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL). Listing is not an endorsement.

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Texas?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Texas scores 61/100 (fair) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and barber pole worm.
Which part of Texas is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Andrews County, Gaines County and Pecos County; the most challenging are Hidalgo County, Burleson County and Fayette County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Texas?
Plan shearing for March, 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 Texas?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Feb–Apr. For births then, breed females in Mar–May (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Texas?
With roughly 0 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 365 lb (166 kg) — around 8 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Texas?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in May–Sep. We estimate about 87 days a year above 90°F (32°C).

Neighboring states

OklahomaKansasLouisianaArkansasHawaiiMississippi

See how these guides are calculated.