Climate snapshot for alpacas
58/100Alpaca climate comfort score
98°FAverage high, Jun
30°FAverage low, Jan
~119Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~55Frost nights per year
12 inAnnual precipitation
1Barber pole worm months
16Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Heat & humidity — dangerous heat-stress conditions in Jun–Aug
- Dry climate — only 12 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: 58/100 — Fair 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 | 61°F | 30°F | 0.5 in | 125 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 66°F | 34°F | 0.4 in | 127 · ok | — |
| Mar | 74°F | 41°F | 0.4 in | 143 · ok | — |
| Apr | 83°F | 48°F | 0.4 in | 148 · caution | — |
| May | 91°F | 58°F | 1.2 in | 167 · high | grass |
| Jun | 98°F | 67°F | 1.3 in | 165 · high | grass |
| Jul | 98°F | 70°F | 1.8 in | 160 · high | grass |
| Aug | 96°F | 69°F | 1.5 in | 149 · caution | grass |
| Sep | 90°F | 62°F | 2.0 in | 152 · high | worms, grass |
| Oct | 81°F | 50°F | 1.1 in | 128 · caution | grass |
| Nov | 70°F | 38°F | 0.5 in | 128 · ok | — |
| Dec | 61°F | 31°F | 0.6 in | 124 · 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 Loving County, Texas
January 61° / 30°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 66° / 34°F
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
March 74° / 41°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 83° / 48°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° / 58°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 98° / 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.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
July 98° / 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 96° / 69°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.
September 90° / 62°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.
October 81° / 50°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 70° / 38°F
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
- Toenail check and trim.
December 61° / 31°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
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–Aug.
- Barber pole worm season: Sep — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Dec–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 Loving 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 Loving County, Texas?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Loving County, Texas scores 58/100 (fair) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are heat & humidity and dry climate.
When should alpacas be shorn in Loving 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 Loving 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 Loving 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 Loving County, Texas?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in May–Sep. We estimate about 119 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 31.845, -103.561 · land area 669 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Texas.