Climate snapshot for alpacas
96/100Alpaca climate comfort score
26°CAverage high, Jan
6°CAverage low, Jul
~2Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~7Frost nights per year
782 mmAnnual precipitation
2Barber pole worm months
9Hay bales / alpaca / year
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Practically frost-free winters
- A long grazing season (11 months of grass growth)
- Short or no barber pole worm transmission season
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 96/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Warm-summer Mediterranean (Köppen Csb). GBIF holds 2 alpaca occurrence records for Australia.
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26°C | 13°C | 68 mm | 143 · caution | worms, grass |
| Feb | 26°C | 13°C | 14 mm | 139 · caution | — |
| Mar | 24°C | 13°C | 25 mm | 142 · ok | grass |
| Apr | 18°C | 9°C | 45 mm | 140 · ok | grass |
| May | 15°C | 8°C | 70 mm | 138 · ok | grass |
| Jun | 12°C | 7°C | 176 mm | 139 · ok | grass |
| Jul | 12°C | 6°C | 96 mm | 136 · ok | grass |
| Aug | 15°C | 7°C | 95 mm | 137 · ok | grass |
| Sep | 17°C | 8°C | 58 mm | 132 · ok | grass |
| Oct | 19°C | 8°C | 40 mm | 135 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 22°C | 10°C | 44 mm | 142 · ok | grass |
| Dec | 24°C | 12°C | 51 mm | 141 · ok | worms, 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: Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (2023-2024) at -34.9°, 138.8°, elevation 480 m.
Alpaca care calendar for South Australia, Australia
January 26° / 13°C
- 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.
- Secure winter hay: about 9 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
- Toenail check and trim.
February 26° / 13°C
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
March 24° / 13°C
- 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.
April 18° / 9°C
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
May 15° / 8°C
- Toenail check and trim.
June 12° / 7°C
July 12° / 6°C
- 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.
August 15° / 7°C
- Cria season: check due dates daily, ensure crias nurse within 4 hours, dip navels and weigh crias daily for two weeks.
September 17° / 8°C
- 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.
- Breeding window for next year's crias (rebreed females 2–4 weeks after birthing).
- Toenail check and trim.
October 19° / 8°C
- 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.
November 22° / 10°C
- 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.
- 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.
December 24° / 12°C
- 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).
Key recommendations
- Shearing: September.
- Best months for crias to be born: Aug–Nov (breed in Sep–Dec).
- Heat precautions: rarely needed — still provide shade and water.
- Barber pole worm season: Dec–Jan — 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: Mar–Jan (about 11 months); feed hay the rest of the year.
- Meningeal worm: Meningeal worm (P. tenuis) is a North American parasite and is not present here.
- Selenium: Check regional soil selenium with your vet or agricultural advisor — many temperate regions are low.
Tools: heat-stress calculator · winter hay calculator · due-date calculator · parasite control guide.
Alpaca farms & shops nearby
Places mapped on OpenStreetMap with “alpaca” in their name, within about 250 km. Contact them before visiting — opening times change.
| Name | Type | Distance | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpaca & Goat Pavilion | farm | 20 km | — |
Data © OpenStreetMap contributors. Know a farm that's missing? Add it to OpenStreetMap and it will appear here in the next update.
Frequently asked questions
Can you raise alpacas in South Australia, Australia?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. South Australia, Australia scores 96/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale.
When should alpacas be shorn in South Australia, Australia?
Plan shearing for September, 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 South Australia, Australia?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Aug–Nov. For births then, breed females in Sep–Dec (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in South Australia, Australia?
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.
Coordinates -34.900, 138.800. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to World.