Alpacas acclimate very well to their surroundings. As with people alpacas in the southeast are housed and cared for a little differently then in the north east.
We are mainly concerned with the hot humid weather of the summers. During this time of the year it is very important for owners to be sure to have plenty of fresh cool water available in the shade you have constructed. There also needs to be enough floor fans for the number of animals. The alpacas will lay in front of the fans to get the air circulating under their bodies to cool.
When using water to spray them, you must be sure not to spray their backs and necks as this will cause the fleece to act as insulation and cause more damage then good. This will cause their body heat to be held in and over heat.
Hosing down the floor and their legs is very good for cooling. They also enjoy this very much. If they lay in too much water though it will ruin their fleece. So you must decide if you are worried about all of their fleece or their well being during extremely hot weather. There is a happy medium to be reached.
The older and the very young alpacas have the worst time during extreme heat. But be very sure not to neglect the pregnant females no matter their ages. It is important to keep them comfortable so they don't use all of their nutrition to keep their body tempature in line and not have any left for the maturing fetus.
Babies born in the extreme heat of the summer have a tougher time staying hydrated because they get so hot they don't want to move thus do not nurse often enough. The dam may not have milk either when birthing in extreme heat.
I am NOT a veterinarian so check all things with your vet. This is just things I have learned on our farm over the years. DO NOT take this writing as the only and best way for you to do things on your farm. On our farm we are here all day and can keep a very close eye on our alpacas and do things as warrented.
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