Climate snapshot for alpacas
70/100Alpaca climate comfort score
96°FAverage high, Jul
31°FAverage low, Jan
~99Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~48Frost nights per year
14 inAnnual precipitation
0Barber pole worm months
16Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Heat & humidity — dangerous heat-stress conditions in Jun–Jul
- Dry climate — only 14 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: 70/100 — Good on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Hot semi-arid (Köppen BSh).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 59°F | 31°F | 0.7 in | 123 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 64°F | 35°F | 0.6 in | 125 · ok | — |
| Mar | 72°F | 42°F | 0.7 in | 140 · ok | — |
| Apr | 81°F | 50°F | 0.7 in | 146 · caution | — |
| May | 88°F | 60°F | 1.6 in | 164 · high | grass |
| Jun | 95°F | 68°F | 1.6 in | 162 · high | grass |
| Jul | 96°F | 70°F | 1.6 in | 157 · high | grass |
| Aug | 95°F | 69°F | 1.7 in | 147 · caution | grass |
| Sep | 87°F | 62°F | 1.9 in | 150 · high | grass |
| Oct | 79°F | 52°F | 1.3 in | 126 · caution | grass |
| Nov | 68°F | 40°F | 0.7 in | 126 · ok | — |
| Dec | 59°F | 32°F | 0.6 in | 122 · 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 Ector County, Texas
January 59° / 31°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.
February 64° / 35°F
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
March 72° / 42°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.
April 81° / 50°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 88° / 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 95° / 68°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.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
July 96° / 70°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.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 95° / 69°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 87° / 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 79° / 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 68° / 40°F
- Toenail check and trim.
December 59° / 32°F
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
Key recommendations
- Shearing: March.
- Best months for crias to be born: Mar–Apr (breed in Apr–May).
- Heat precautions: May–Sep; dangerous heat in Jun–Jul.
- Barber pole worm: low transmission risk on average — still run fecal egg counts in spring and autumn.
- Freezing nights: Jan — keep water from freezing.
- 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 Ector 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 Ector County, Texas?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Ector County, Texas scores 70/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are heat & humidity and dry climate.
When should alpacas be shorn in Ector 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 Ector County, Texas?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Mar–Apr. For births then, breed females in Apr–May (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Ector 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 Ector County, Texas?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in May–Sep. We estimate about 99 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 31.865, -102.543 · land area 898 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Texas.