Introducing – Simon Holik

Even as a youngster, I was very interested in animals, and this interest crystallized first in my equestrian endeavors and then in my studies at the Veterinary University in Brno. For a long time I was drawn to horses and subsequently to other farm animals. Mostly cattle and pigs, that's where I directed my practice. I took my first steps in reproduction and embryo transfer of cattle at the Impuls breeding center and then, after completing my studies at my alma mater in 2017, I immediately went to Africa for further experience. More specifically, to Zambia.

In Zambia I took care of the Czech Ministry of Agriculture project under Mendel University and Agriserve agro. I worked as a farm manager and the beginnings were difficult for me. After all, it was a new environment and the experience I gained during my internship at university helped me a lot, but unfortunately it was not enough. In Zambia I encountered many new diseases and downfalls. After this I was sent to South Africa for an internship in African diseases at the University of South Africa under DVM Danie Odendaal, and in Zambia, together with DVM JG Nel, we expanded our knowledge of synchronization programs thanks to DVM Lucas Cutaia of Syntex. These practices helped broaden my horizons for the following years and my endeavors in Africa.

After the Czech project ended, I continued to work with Agriserve agro for two more years. During these two years I was able to gain a lot of experience in pharmaceuticals, veterinary care and cattle reproduction. In 2018, together with Jiří Novák, we organized an expedition to Malawi for the project of insemination of local cattle with insemination doses from Europe, concretely this project involved approximately 70 farmers together with 2000 cattle. We also completed an expedition together to the Democratic Republic of the Congo to analyze diseases and advise on prevention programs in a herd of 30,000 on a 45,000 hectare farm. We collected blood samples to test for IBR, BVD, Brucellosis, Tritrichomonas foetus, Campylobacter foetus, clostridial disease and pasteurellosis. We personally transported these samples for testing to JAR in cooperation with DVM JG Nel. During my time in this company, we also imported more than two containers of pharmaceutical products from China and the registration was done under my guidance with my commercial name designs in Zambia under Alfa group. Every year, Agriserve Agro exhibited at the Agritech expo, where I also met VVS for the first time, namely our Ing., Václav Brynda Sr.

Following his guidance, I started the company VVS Zambia in 2019 and we continue to provide veterinary, reproductive consulting with the addition of feed business. From 2019 until now, we have inseminated over 2,000 cows, vaccinated more than 10,000 cattle and fed hundreds of tons of feed premixes. Apart from these physical footprints, we also left a footprint in the form of knowledge in our local farmers, we have trained over 500 of individuals. We take 10 containers to Zambia every year and still participate in that fateful exhibition, Agritech.

Among other things, I own such a small farm in the small town of Chongwe, not far from the capital Lusaka, with 150 TN70 pigs and 10 cows, which are crossbreds of the local tuli breed and our Czech Fleckvieh cattle. We also have three beehives in there, as well as different types of citruses, mangoes and avocados, and a few chickens to keep us busy. And of course during the district championship in football we support our team VVS and Four Pigs Zambia.

Zambia is a beautiful country, but life there is difficult, despite the kindness of the people the life so far from family does not last long and I hope that I will be able to contribute with my little help to not only the Zambian VVS, but also the Czech one.