Construction and operating costs for two gestation housing systems were compared to assess their impact on cost
per weaned pig produced. The systems compared were: 1) individual gestation stalls in a mechanically ventilated confinement building with slatted floor and 2) group pens with individual feed stalls in deep‐bedded naturally ventilated hoop barns. It was found that in the upper Midwest United States, group housing of gestation sows in deep‐bedded hoop barns may produce pigs at a lower cost than individual gestation stalls in confinement facilities if the bedded group housing system is managed optimally.