Climate snapshot for alpacas
83/100Alpaca climate comfort score
32°CAverage high, Jul
-8°CAverage low, Jan
~32Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~117Frost nights per year
554 mmAnnual precipitation
5Barber pole worm months
14Hay bales / alpaca / year
Main challenges
- Summer heat — heat-stress precautions needed in Jul–Aug
- Barber pole worm — long warm-wet parasite season (Apr–May, Jul–Sep)
Advantages
- Winters are cold but rarely severe
- Low meningeal worm risk
Overall rating: 83/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Monsoon-influenced hot-summer continental (Köppen Dwa). GBIF holds 13 alpaca occurrence records for China.
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 3°C | -8°C | 6 mm | 78 · ok | frost |
| Feb | 6°C | -5°C | 21 mm | 96 · ok | frost |
| Mar | 15°C | 0°C | 12 mm | 99 · ok | — |
| Apr | 21°C | 7°C | 70 mm | 118 · ok | worms, grass |
| May | 26°C | 13°C | 50 mm | 127 · caution | worms, grass |
| Jun | 31°C | 17°C | 24 mm | 131 · caution | grass |
| Jul | 32°C | 20°C | 114 mm | 148 · caution | worms, grass |
| Aug | 29°C | 19°C | 121 mm | 155 · high | worms, grass |
| Sep | 25°C | 15°C | 73 mm | 148 · caution | worms, grass |
| Oct | 19°C | 7°C | 38 mm | 127 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 10°C | 0°C | 15 mm | 102 · ok | — |
| Dec | 3°C | -7°C | 8 mm | 79 · 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: Open-Meteo ERA5 reanalysis (2023-2024) at 37.9°, 112.5°, elevation 793 m.
Alpaca care calendar for China
January 3° / -8°C
- 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 6° / -5°C
- Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
- 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 15° / 0°C
- Run pre-season fecal egg counts so you know each animal's baseline.
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
- Toenail check and trim.
April 21° / 7°C
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Barber pole worm season: fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks, check eyelid color, pick up dung piles twice a week.
- 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.
May 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.
- 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.
June 31° / 17°C
- Warm spells possible — watch for open-mouth breathing in heavy-fleeced or dark animals.
- 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.
July 32° / 20°C
- 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 29° / 19°C
- 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 25° / 15°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.
- Toenail check and trim.
October 19° / 7°C
- Secure winter hay: about 14 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
November 10° / 0°C
- Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
December 3° / -7°C
- 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
- Shearing: April.
- Best months for crias to be born: Apr–May (breed in May–Jun).
- Heat precautions: Jul–Aug.
- Barber pole worm season: Apr–May, Jul–Sep — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Freezing nights: Dec–Feb — keep water from freezing.
- Vitamin D for crias: Nov–Feb.
- Grazing season: Apr–Oct (about 7 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
No alpaca farms near China 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 China?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. China scores 83/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale; the key issues are summer heat and barber pole worm.
When should alpacas be shorn in China?
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 China?
Mild months suit newborn crias best — here that is Apr–May. For births then, breed females in May–Jun (gestation is about 335 days).
How much hay does an alpaca need per year in China?
With roughly 5 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 699 lb (317 kg) — around 14 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
How hot does it get for alpacas in China?
Heat-stress precautions are needed in Jul–Aug. We estimate about 32 days a year above 90°F (32°C).
Coordinates 37.900, 112.500. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to World.