Dreamcatcher Alpacas
Local alpaca guide · Mountain West

Raising Alpacas in Utah

Utah has a warm-summer humid continental climate (Köppen Dfb): summer highs average 86°F in July and winter lows average 17°F in December, with about 17 inches of precipitation a year. It is a comparatively easy climate for alpacas.

Updated 2026-10-02By the Dreamcatcher Alpacas editorial team

Statewide snapshot

100/100Alpaca climate comfort score (state average)
86°FAverage high, Jul (state average)
17°FAverage low, Dec (state average)
~13Days above 90°F (32°C) per year (state average)
~166Frost nights per year (state average)
17 inAnnual precipitation (state average)
0Barber pole worm months (state average)
16Hay bales / alpaca / year (state average)
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
10°0.030°1.050°2.070°3.090°4.0Jan: 1.6 inJanFeb: 1.6 inFebMar: 1.6 inMarApr: 1.6 inAprMay: 1.6 inMayJun: 0.8 inJunJul: 0.9 inJulAug: 1.1 inAugSep: 1.3 inSepOct: 1.6 inOctNov: 1.3 inNovDec: 1.6 inDecJan high: 37°FFeb high: 41°FMar high: 50°FApr high: 57°FMay high: 67°FJun high: 78°FJul high: 86°FAug high: 84°FSep high: 75°FOct high: 61°FNov high: 47°FDec high: 37°FJan low: 17°FFeb low: 20°FMar low: 27°FApr low: 32°FMay low: 41°FJun low: 49°FJul low: 56°FAug low: 55°FSep low: 46°FOct low: 35°FNov low: 25°FDec low: 17°F°Fin

Average of 29 county normals (NOAA nClimDiv, 1991–2020). Conditions vary a lot within the state — open your county below.

Most alpaca-friendly counties

  1. Cache County — 100/100
  2. Garfield County — 100/100
  3. Iron County — 100/100
  4. Morgan County — 100/100
  5. Sevier County — 100/100

Most challenging counties

  1. Grand County — 87/100
  2. Juab County — 87/100
  3. Millard County — 87/100
  4. San Juan County — 87/100
  5. Tooele County — 87/100

All 29 counties

Click a column to sort. Temperatures in °F; “worm months” follow Gordon's bioclimatograph for barber pole worm.

CountyPeak highLowest lowDays ≥90°FFrost nightsWorm monthsShearHay balesScore
Beaver County8918241640May1696
Box Elder County8917261590May1796
Cache County821641790May18100
Carbon County841471830May1794
Daggett County801222050Jun1791
Davis County8821201351May1698
Duchesne County791122020Jun1791
Emery County9117341460May1891
Garfield County8618141550May16100
Grand County9218391410May1787
Iron County8818201640May16100
Juab County9118371530May1887
Kane County9122361300May2096
Millard County9218431530May2087
Morgan County811641790May17100
Piute County801521960Jun1897
Rich County801122110Jun1891
Salt Lake County8721171381May1698
San Juan County9221431260May2087
Sanpete County821541880Jun1697
Sevier County811631810May17100
Summit County751202220Jun1891
Tooele County9319431450May2087
Uintah County8711171740May1794
Utah County8617141670May16100
Wasatch County781312060Jun1794
Washington County922748890Apr1492
Wayne County9019311370May2091
Weber County841891631May1798

Typical alpaca care calendar for Utah

Based on statewide averages — your county page has a calendar tuned to local conditions.

January 37° / 17°F

FrostVitamin D
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
  • Toenail check and trim.

February 41° / 20°F

FrostVitamin D
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).

March 50° / 27°F

Frost
  • 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.

April 57° / 32°F

  • CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.

May 67° / 41°F

ShearingCria season
  • 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.
  • Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
  • Toenail check and trim.

June 78° / 49°F

Cria seasonBreeding
  • 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).
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.

July 86° / 56°F

Cria seasonBreeding
  • 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.
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
  • Toenail check and trim.

August 84° / 55°F

Cria seasonBreeding
  • 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).
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.

September 75° / 46°F

Breeding
  • Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
  • Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
  • Toenail check and trim.

October 61° / 35°F

  • Secure winter hay: about 16 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
  • Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.

November 47° / 25°F

FrostVitamin D
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
  • Toenail check and trim.

December 37° / 17°F

FrostVitamin D
  • Freezing nights: keep water open and feed extra hay during cold snaps.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).

Key recommendations for Utah

  • Shearing: May.
  • Best months for crias to be born: May–Aug (breed in Jun–Sep).
  • Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
  • Barber pole worm: low transmission risk on average — still run fecal egg counts in spring and autumn.
  • Freezing nights: Nov–Mar — keep water from freezing.
  • Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
  • Grazing season: May–Oct (about 6 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
  • Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm is not established in this region.
  • Selenium: Most forage here supplies adequate selenium, and some western areas have high-selenium plants — avoid stacking selenium supplements.

Alpaca farms & shops in Utah

Blue Moon Ranch AlpacasWebsite
Alpaca International

From OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL). Listing is not an endorsement.

Frequently asked questions

Can you raise alpacas in Utah?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Utah scores 100/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale.
Which part of Utah is best for alpacas?
By our climate comfort score, the most alpaca-friendly counties are Cache County, Garfield County and Iron County; the most challenging are Grand County, Juab County and Millard County.
When should alpacas be shorn in Utah?
Plan shearing for May, 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 Utah?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is May–Aug. For births then, breed females in Jun–Sep (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in Utah?
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.

Neighboring states

ArizonaCaliforniaColoradoNevadaIdahoNebraska

See how these guides are calculated.