I've never worked on a steamship, but I suppose they are. This is the most energy efficient way to burn them, because no energy has to be wasted to kill them first. Neither the stoker's nor the sheep's energy. This again means that less sheep have to be burned for a nautical mile - and animal protection societies will be satisfied.Read this: http://www.animals_as_energy_suppliers.com/industrial_revolution/living_sheep&seafaring/past&now_164.htm
I've known plenty of sheep which have gone for burning, but that may just be the bad chef
i wonder what they do with the slurry
also they burn sheep (mainly cows) becuase of TB. about 32,000 got burnt last year because of tb.
They are also known to burn people who make daft comments.
Now you see what happens if you don't have enough sheep. There is really money in raising sheep!