The Sulmtaler needs your support!

Grant Brereton looks at a beautiful Austrian breed that could do with more keepers...

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The Sulmtaler breed originated in the Austrian federal state of Styria, and in particular near the provincial capital Graz, which is the birthplace of famous bodybuilder, actor and former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger. Sulmaters were shown in the UK for the first time in 1991, with the breed sparking some initial interest from exhibitors, and in 1997 a bantam female won 'Best in Show' at Lichfield for breed registrar, Mrs Sue Bruton. But as is the case with many new breeds, after some initial interest its popularity declined. Thanks to devotees such as Kate Cox (who has provided lots of information for this article), the breed enjoyed a resurgence of interest circa 2013 and onwards, attracting attention from breeders and judges alike.

A WELL TRAVELLED HISTORY

In the valley of the river Sulm to the south of Graz, a mild climate and rich, fertile land allowed small farms to become a poultry rearing heartland. By the late 19th century, poultry from this area was well-known and sought after far beyond the borders of its homeland - its extraordinary tenderness and flavour considered a delicacy in the royal courts of Vienna and France.

Around 1860 demand grew for large, heavy poultry, so the best of the native Styrian fowl were crossed with Cochins, Brahmas and Langshans. To increase the size further, these were then bred with Dorkings and Houdans. Around 1905 a breeder by the name of Amin Arbeiter combined the best of these crosses to bring uniformity in both size and type. He named these 'Sulmtaler' which translates as 'that which derives from the Sulm valley.'