Cumulative update package 3 for SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1
It seems I'm missing to monitor the release of Cumulative Updates for SQL Server 2008 version, in the series of last one Cumulative Update Package 2 for SQL Server 2008 SP1 we have Cumulative Update package 3 in the list for testing.
KBA971491 talks about hotfixes for the Microsoft SQL Server 2008 issues that have been fixed since the release of SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1. It is a common-sense and best-practice that you must test hotfixes before you deploy them in a production environment. Because the builds are cumulative, each new fix release contains all the hotfixes and all the security fixes that were included with the previous SQL Server 2008 fix release.
There is a huge list of fixes and hotfixes that are included in Cumulative Update 3 for SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1, so it is better to have a thorough look of KBA971491 above under "SQL Server 2008 hotfixes that are included in Cumulative Update 3 for SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1" section. Also refer to "How to obtain Cumulative Update 3 for SQL Server 2008 Service Pack 1" section to get the relevant fix only if your problem persists on the above hotfixes list.
Finally a question arises from the users that how to obtain builds that are release after SQL 2008 SP1 was release, the answer is KBA970365 link. As this is important if you want to rollout any urgent fix to the system or resolve the issue that was presented in this CU package release.