Southern or soft layer (10)

I believe the answer is:

australorp

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'layer' is the definition.
Both the answer and definition are singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I don't see?

'southern or soft' is the wordplay.
'southern' becomes 'austral' (similar in meaning).
'soft' becomes 'p' (musical abbreviation for 'piano').
'austral'+'or'+'p'='AUSTRALORP'

Can you help me to learn more?

(Another definition for australorp that I've seen is " Antipodean hen breed".)

I've seen this clue in the Sydney Morning Herald.

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