Climate snapshot for alpacas
75/100Alpaca climate comfort score
92°FAverage high, Jul
25°FAverage low, Jan
~57Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~97Frost nights per year
20 inAnnual precipitation
5Barber pole worm months
12Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in May–Aug
- Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (May–Sep)
Advantages
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- A long grazing season (9 months of grass growth)
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 75/100 — Good on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Cold semi-arid (Köppen BSk).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 52°F | 25°F | 0.6 in | 117 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 57°F | 28°F | 0.6 in | 118 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 65°F | 35°F | 1.2 in | 134 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 73°F | 42°F | 1.4 in | 138 · ok | grass |
| May | 81°F | 53°F | 2.6 in | 158 · high | worms, grass |
| Jun | 90°F | 62°F | 3.1 in | 156 · high | worms, grass |
| Jul | 92°F | 66°F | 2.4 in | 154 · high | worms, grass |
| Aug | 91°F | 64°F | 2.5 in | 143 · caution | worms, grass |
| Sep | 83°F | 57°F | 2.1 in | 146 · caution | worms, grass |
| Oct | 73°F | 45°F | 1.8 in | 120 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 62°F | 34°F | 0.8 in | 120 · ok | grass |
| Dec | 53°F | 26°F | 0.8 in | 116 · 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 Swisher County, Texas
January 52° / 25°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
- Toenail check and trim.
February 57° / 28°F
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
March 65° / 35°F
- 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.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 73° / 42°F
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- 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.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
May 81° / 53°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.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
June 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.
July 92° / 66°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 91° / 64°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.
September 83° / 57°F
- 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.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 73° / 45°F
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
November 62° / 34°F
- Secure winter hay: about 12 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
- Toenail check and trim.
December 53° / 26°F
- Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
Key recommendations
- Shearing: April.
- Best months for crias to be born: Apr (breed in May).
- Heat precautions: May–Aug.
- Barber pole worm season: May–Sep — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Dec–Feb — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D: winter sunlight is usually adequate at this latitude; ask your vet about dark-fleeced crias.
- Grazing season: Mar–Nov (about 9 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 Swisher 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 Swisher County, Texas?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Swisher County, Texas scores 75/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and barber pole worm.
When should alpacas be shorn in Swisher County, Texas?
Plan shearing for April, 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 Swisher County, Texas?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Apr. For births then, breed females in May (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Swisher County, Texas?
With roughly 3 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 565 lb (256 kg) — around 12 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Swisher County, Texas?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in May–Aug. We estimate about 57 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 34.526, -101.744 · land area 890 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Texas.