Local alpaca guide · Europe

Raising Alpacas in Denmark

Denmark has a oceanic (temperate) climate (Köppen Cfb): summer highs average 20°C in August and winter lows average -0°C in January, with about 1082 mm of precipitation a year. It is a comparatively easy climate for alpacas.

Climate snapshot for alpacas

93/100Alpaca climate comfort score
20°CAverage high, Aug
-0°CAverage low, Jan
~0Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~60Frost nights per year
1082 mmAnnual precipitation
4Barber pole worm months
16Hay bales / alpaca / year

Advantages

  • Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
  • Winters are cold but rarely severe
  • Low meningeal worm risk

Overall rating: 93/100 — Excellent on our alpaca climate comfort score. Climate type: Oceanic (temperate) (Köppen Cfb).

Month-by-month climate

Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
-10°0-2°425°8412°12520°167Jan: 119.9 mmJanFeb: 85.1 mmFebMar: 73.2 mmMarApr: 95.2 mmAprMay: 55.1 mmMayJun: 73.9 mmJunJul: 145.3 mmJulAug: 104.4 mmAugSep: 65.8 mmSepOct: 106.9 mmOctNov: 69.1 mmNovDec: 89.4 mmDecJan high: 4°CFeb high: 6°CMar high: 7°CApr high: 11°CMay high: 17°CJun high: 19°CJul high: 19°CAug high: 20°CSep high: 19°COct high: 12°CNov high: 7°CDec high: 5°CJan low: -0°CFeb low: 2°CMar low: 2°CApr low: 3°CMay low: 8°CJun low: 11°CJul low: 12°CAug low: 13°CSep low: 12°COct low: 8°CNov low: 3°CDec low: 2°C°Cmm
MonthHighLowPrecip.Heat-stress indexNotes
Jan4°C-0°C120 mm128 · okfrost
Feb6°C2°C85 mm130 · ok—
Mar7°C2°C73 mm128 · ok—
Apr11°C3°C95 mm128 · ok—
May17°C8°C55 mm134 · okgrass
Jun19°C11°C74 mm141 · okworms, grass
Jul19°C12°C145 mm145 · okworms, grass
Aug20°C13°C104 mm148 · okworms, grass
Sep19°C12°C66 mm148 · okworms, grass
Oct12°C8°C107 mm139 · okgrass
Nov7°C3°C69 mm133 · ok—
Dec5°C2°C89 mm132 · ok—

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 56.0°, 9.5°, elevation 96 m.

Alpaca care calendar for Denmark

January 4° / -0°C

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 6° / 2°C

Vitamin D
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).

March 7° / 2°C

Vitamin D
  • Book your shearer now — spring calendars fill up fast.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
  • Toenail check and trim.

April 11° / 3°C

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

May 17° / 8°C

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

June 19° / 11°C

Worm seasonCria seasonBreeding
  • 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).

July 19° / 12°C

Worm seasonCria seasonBreeding
  • 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.

August 20° / 13°C

Worm seasonCria seasonBreeding
  • 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).

September 19° / 12°C

Worm seasonBreeding
  • 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.

October 12° / 8°C

Vitamin D
  • Secure winter hay: about 16 small square bales per alpaca per year here — test a sample before buying.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).

November 7° / 3°C

Vitamin D
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
  • Toenail check and trim.

December 5° / 2°C

Vitamin D
  • Winter prep: install water heaters, repair shelters and windbreaks, stock bedding.
  • Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).

Key recommendations

  • 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 season: Jun–Sep — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
  • Freezing nights: Jan — keep water from freezing.
  • Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
  • Grazing season: May–Oct (about 6 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.

NameTypeDistanceWebsite
Virkelyst Alpacafarmshop81 kmVisit
Sydfyn Alpacasvisitor farm124 kmVisit
Alpacas of Fredlyvisitor farm143 kmVisit
Alpakahöfle Nordstrand · Nordstrandvisitor farm171 kmVisit

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 Denmark?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Denmark scores 93/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale.
When should alpacas be shorn in Denmark?
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 Denmark?
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 Denmark?
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.

Coordinates 56.000, 9.500. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to World.