Climate snapshot for alpacas
73/100Alpaca climate comfort score
96°FAverage high, Jun
34°FAverage low, Jan
~107Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~35Frost nights per year
13 inAnnual precipitation
1Barber pole worm months
16Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Heat & humidity — dangerous heat-stress conditions in Jun
- Dry climate — only 13 in of rain — irrigated pasture or year-round hay
Advantages
- Practically frost-free winters
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 73/100 — Good on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Hot desert (Köppen BWh).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 63°F | 34°F | 0.5 in | 127 · ok | — |
| Feb | 68°F | 38°F | 0.4 in | 129 · ok | — |
| Mar | 76°F | 44°F | 0.4 in | 144 · caution | — |
| Apr | 84°F | 51°F | 0.5 in | 148 · caution | — |
| May | 91°F | 60°F | 1.3 in | 167 · high | grass |
| Jun | 96°F | 67°F | 1.7 in | 162 · high | grass |
| Jul | 94°F | 68°F | 2.1 in | 156 · high | worms, grass |
| Aug | 94°F | 68°F | 1.9 in | 146 · caution | grass |
| Sep | 88°F | 62°F | 1.7 in | 151 · high | grass |
| Oct | 82°F | 52°F | 1.1 in | 128 · caution | grass |
| Nov | 71°F | 41°F | 0.6 in | 129 · ok | — |
| Dec | 64°F | 34°F | 0.4 in | 127 · ok | — |
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 Brewster County, Texas
January 63° / 34°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Toenail check and trim.
February 68° / 38°F
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
March 76° / 44°F
- 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.
- 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 84° / 51°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- 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.
May 91° / 60°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 96° / 67°F
- Dangerous heat: provide shade, fans and ground-level sprinklers or wading pools; check the herd twice daily and avoid all handling or transport in the afternoon.
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
July 94° / 68°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 94° / 68°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
September 88° / 62°F
- Heat precautions: shade, airflow, cool fresh water and no handling in the heat of the day.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 82° / 52°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- Secure winter hay: about 16 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 71° / 41°F
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
December 64° / 34°F
Key recommendations
- Shearing: March.
- Best months for crias to be born: Feb–Apr (breed in Mar–May).
- Heat precautions: May–Sep; dangerous heat in Jun.
- Barber pole worm season: Jul — 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: May–Oct (about 6 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 Brewster County, Texas 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 Brewster County, Texas?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Brewster County, Texas scores 73/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are heat & humidity and dry climate.
When should alpacas be shorn in Brewster County, 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 Brewster County, 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 Brewster County, Texas?
With roughly 6 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 766 lb (347 kg) — around 16 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Brewster County, Texas?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in May–Sep. We estimate about 107 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 29.809, -103.252 · land area 6,184 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Texas.