Climate snapshot for alpacas
96/100Alpaca climate comfort score
18°CAverage high, Jun
3°CAverage low, Jan
~0Days above 90°F (32°C) per year
~19Frost nights per year
1036 mmAnnual precipitation
2Barber pole worm months
12Hay bales / alpaca / year
Advantages
- Summers rarely reach heat-stress levels for alpacas
- Practically frost-free winters
- A long grazing season (9 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: Oceanic (temperate) (Köppen Cfb). GBIF holds 4 alpaca occurrence records for United Kingdom.
Month-by-month climate
Average highAverage lowPrecipitation
| Month | High | Low | Precip. | Heat-stress index | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 8°C | 3°C | 65 mm | 131 · ok | — |
| Feb | 10°C | 5°C | 39 mm | 134 · ok | grass |
| Mar | 10°C | 5°C | 109 mm | 132 · ok | — |
| Apr | 12°C | 7°C | 100 mm | 133 · ok | grass |
| May | 17°C | 10°C | 69 mm | 141 · ok | grass |
| Jun | 18°C | 12°C | 57 mm | 140 · ok | worms, grass |
| Jul | 18°C | 13°C | 137 mm | 143 · ok | grass |
| Aug | 18°C | 13°C | 123 mm | 145 · ok | worms, grass |
| Sep | 17°C | 12°C | 89 mm | 145 · ok | grass |
| Oct | 14°C | 10°C | 87 mm | 141 · ok | grass |
| Nov | 10°C | 6°C | 62 mm | 138 · ok | grass |
| Dec | 9°C | 5°C | 100 mm | 135 · 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 54.6°, -6.5°, elevation 11 m.
Alpaca care calendar for Northern Ireland, United Kingdom
January 8° / 3°C
- 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.
February 10° / 5°C
- Spring grass: switch from hay to pasture gradually over 1–2 weeks and monitor body condition.
- Secure winter hay: about 12 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).
March 10° / 5°C
- Shearing month: shear the whole herd, and trim toenails, check teeth and body condition while animals are restrained.
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
April 12° / 7°C
- CDT boosters for females due next month; prepare a clean birthing paddock and birthing kit.
May 17° / 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.
- Fly season: clean dung piles regularly and use traps around the barn.
- Toenail check and trim.
June 18° / 12°C
- 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 18° / 13°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.
- Toenail check and trim.
August 18° / 13°C
- 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 17° / 12°C
- 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 14° / 10°C
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
November 10° / 6°C
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
- Toenail check and trim.
December 9° / 5°C
- Vitamin D for crias and juveniles (ask your vet about product and dose).
Key recommendations
- Shearing: March.
- 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, Aug — run fecal egg counts every 4–6 weeks in these months.
- Winter: frost is rare.
- Vitamin D for crias: Oct–Mar.
- Grazing season: Feb, Apr–Nov (about 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Coast Alpacas · Coleraine | visitor farm | 64 km | Visit |
| Alpaca Field | farm | 167 km | — |
| Anglesey Alpacas | visitor farm | 213 km | — |
| Alpacaly Ever After · Keswick | farm | 213 km | Visit |
| The Alpaca Clothing Company · Stainton | shop | 239 km | Visit |
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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom?
Yes. Alpacas are kept successfully in most climates with good management. Northern Ireland, United Kingdom scores 96/100 (excellent) on our alpaca climate comfort scale.
When should alpacas be shorn in Northern Ireland, United Kingdom?
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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom?
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 Northern Ireland, United Kingdom?
With roughly 3 months of little or no grazing, plan on about 565 lb (256 kg) — around 12 small square bales — per adult alpaca per year, plus waste.
Coordinates 54.600, -6.500. Long-term averages, not forecasts. See methodology and data sources. Back to World.