A huarizo, also known as a llapaca, is a hybrid cross between a male llama and a female alpaca. Misti is a similar hybrid; it is a cross between a male alpaca and a female llama. The most common hybrid between South American camelids, huarizo tend to be much smaller than llamas, with their fibre being longer. Wikipedia

I wanted and was going to get some Huarizo’s, found out that it’s probably best to just have Llama’s; but we went with a dog for now. We were going to have a couple donkeys, but that fell through. So Dog it is… for now.

The dog is mostly for the main farm, mostly to guard the fowl. Soon I will get llamas to guard baby sheep, pigs and goats. We won’t have a lot of pigs; mostly sheep, goats, and fowl. Kosher animals. Pigs will just eat some of what the others won’t, for a symbiotic relationship.

I understand that alpacas are more susceptible to parasites, where llamas are more parasite resistant. As a hybrid animal (a cross between a llama and an alpaca), the huarizo is not innately resistant to parasites. Like other camelids, huarizos are susceptible to a wide variety of both internal and external parasites and require regular deworming and careful management to prevent infection. 

Factors affecting parasite susceptibility in huarizos and other camelids:

• Growing popularity: As these animals become more common in regions outside their native South America, they are exposed to new parasites and are subject to infections.
• Anthelmintic resistance: Some alpaca and llama herds have developed resistance to common dewormers, possibly due to inappropriate dosing or overuse of injectable medications. This is a growing concern that requires careful monitoring.
• Immature animals: Young huarizos and other camelids are particularly vulnerable to certain parasites, such as Nematodirus and Eimeria macusaniensis, a highly pathogenic species of coccidia. 

Common parasites in camelids

Some of the parasites that can affect huarizos include:

• Gastrointestinal nematodes (GINs): These include barber’s pole worm (Haemonchus contortus), which attaches to the stomach lining and feeds on blood.
• Coccidia: Several species of Eimeria can infect camelids, particularly younger animals.
• Mites and lice: Various genera, such as Sarcoptes, Chorioptes, and Bovicola, can cause skin conditions.
• Liver flukes: These parasites can affect huarizos that graze on wet, marshy ground where the intermediate hosts (snails) live. 

Proper parasite management

Effective parasite control for huarizos requires a strategic approach:

Consulting a veterinarian: Because no anthelmintics are specifically registered for camelids, veterinarians often adapt dosages from those used for sheep or cattle. They can also help develop a parasite control strategy that accounts for regional parasite types and potential drug resistance

Regular fecal egg counts (FECs): This practice allows owners to monitor the parasite burden in their animals and identify specific types of parasites.

Targeted deworming: Instead of blanket treatments, deworming should be based on FEC results and only administered when the parasite burden is significant enough to cause health issues.

Strategic grazing: Owners can manage their pastures to reduce parasite exposure, for instance by avoiding overgrazing or keeping animals away from wet areas.

In closing, it looks like I am going to go with the Llama; a female Llama.