Climate snapshot for alpacas
66/100Alpaca climate comfort score
95°FAverage high, Jul
32°FAverage low, Jan
~81Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~38Frost nights per year
26 inAnnual precipitation
6Barber pole worm months
9Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in May–Sep
- Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (May–Oct)
Advantages
- Practically frost-free winters
- A long grazing season (11 months of grass growth)
Overall rating: 66/100 — Good on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Humid subtropical (Köppen Cfa).
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 57°F | 32°F | 1.1 in | 122 · ok | — |
| Feb | 61°F | 36°F | 1.4 in | 122 · ok | grass |
| Mar | 69°F | 44°F | 1.7 in | 138 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 78°F | 50°F | 2.0 in | 142 · caution | grass |
| May | 85°F | 60°F | 3.3 in | 161 · high | worms, grass |
| Jun | 91°F | 68°F | 3.3 in | 158 · high | worms, grass |
| Jul | 95°F | 71°F | 2.0 in | 156 · high | worms, grass |
| Aug | 94°F | 70°F | 2.5 in | 147 · caution | worms, grass |
| Sep | 87°F | 63°F | 3.0 in | 150 · high | worms, grass |
| Oct | 78°F | 53°F | 2.5 in | 125 · caution | worms, grass |
| Nov | 66°F | 42°F | 1.5 in | 125 · ok | grass |
| Dec | 58°F | 34°F | 1.2 in | 121 · ok | grass |
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 Taylor County, Texas
January 57° / 32°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 61° / 36°F
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
March 69° / 44°F
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- 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° / 50°F
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- 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.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
May 85° / 60°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.
- 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 91° / 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.
- Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
July 95° / 71°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.
- 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 94° / 70°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.
- Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
September 87° / 63°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.
- 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 78° / 53°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.
- Meningeal worm risk: keep alpacas off wet wooded edges and watch for hind-leg weakness; discuss prevention with your vet.
November 66° / 42°F
- 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 58° / 34°F
- Secure winter hay: about 9 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
Key recommendations
- Shearing: March.
- Best months for crias to be born: Feb–Apr (breed in Mar–May).
- Heat precautions: May–Sep.
- Barber pole worm season: May–Oct — 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: Feb–Dec (about 11 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.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
No alpaca farms near Taylor 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 Taylor County, Texas?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Taylor County, Texas scores 66/100 (good) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and barber pole worm.
When should alpacas be shorn in Taylor 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 Taylor 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 Taylor County, Texas?
With roughly 1 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 432 lb (196 kg) — around 9 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in Taylor County, Texas?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in May–Sep. We estimate about 81 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Nearby counties
Coordinates 32.297, -99.890 · land area 916 sq mi. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to Texas.